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16 Pages Price 20,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13336 Sunday FEBRUARY 24, 2019 Esfand 5, 1397 Jumada Al thani 18, 1440 Iran well able to IAEA reaffirms Iran eye FIFA Beach Metal engraving of Quran oil sales but hopes it Iran’s compliance to Soccer World Cup verses sells for over $1.8 won’t come to that 2 nuclear deal 2 berth: Octavio 15 million at Tehran auction 16 Private sector should contribute to oil fields development Technology can weather TEHRAN — Director of National Ira- sector in which mines are being developed nian Oil Company (NIOC)’s Discovery by the private sector, NIOC should also Department said the private sector should award oilfield development projects to See page 2 be able to contribute to developing the capable private companies. country’s oil fields, IRNA reported on “Iran has huge resources of shale oil, sanctions pressure Saturday. shale gas and gas hydrates which have Speaking in the 3rd Iran International not yet been developed; exploration and Exploration and Production Congress and development of these resources should Exhibition (Iran E&P 2019) in Tehran, be awarded to the private sector.” the Saleh Hendi noted that like the mining official said. 4

Admiral: Iran to hold naval drills with regional states TEHRAN — Chief of the Iranian Navy He also said that the Iranian navy will Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi has said unveil a new generation of hovercrafts that Iran plans to hold joint naval drills with next year, noting that the hovercrafts friendly regional countries in the future. are being produced completely by Ira- “We will hold a naval drill with friendly nian experts. countries in the region, especially with the Elsewhere, he predicted that the Indian Ocean Rim Association member presence of hegemonic powers in the states,” he told the Mehr news agency region will come to an end cut in the in an interview published on Saturday. near future.

Kushner is behind sending sensitive U.S. nuclear tech to Saudi: Askari By Javad Heirannia now I think that MBS has followed up on TEHRAN – Professor Hossein Askari, this with Jared Kushner.” an expert on Saudi Arabia who also teach- “ So today, I believe the main advocate es international business at the George for this are Kushner, U.S. nuclear pow- Washington University, believes that er plant builders, such as Westinghouse the origin of the initiative of the sending and General Electric, and possibly Don- sensitive U.S. nuclear technology “was ald Trump’s sons,” Hossein Askari, who General Flynn, the disgraced first National served as special advisor to Saudi finance president.ir Security Advisor to Donald Trump. But minister, tells the Tehran Times. 7

REPORT ‘Transferring nuclear tech to Saudi is most destabilizing development’ ARTICLE Ramin Hossein Abadian What can be the consequences of such an A: At a minimum, such an act will embolden Syed Zafar Mehdi Mehr News Agency EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW act for the region? the Takfiri groups to accelerate their terrorist Journalist journalist By Payman Yazdani A: As the recently-released report of the activities in the region and beyond. They may from New Delhi TEHRAN — Touching upon Trump’s attempt U.S. House of Representative’s Committee reason that since their chief sponsor is on its to transfer sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi on Oversight and Reform indicated, selling way to becoming a nuclear power with added Assad, Putin’s Arabia, Prof. Entessar says this is the most dest- and transferring sensitive nuclear technology muscle, it is safer for them to put their criminal Pakistan a pawn abilizing and dangerous development that will to Saudi Arabia could allow that country to acts in overdrive. green light for embolden Takfiri extremists. produce nuclear weapons and thus contribute The U.S. is committed to Israeli regime’s in Saudi’s sinister The U.S. President Donald Trump is rushing to to a potential nuclear arms race in an already security. Can such a move create possible threats battle of transfer sensitive nuclear power technology to Saudi unstable region. Transferring sensitive nu- to the security of Tel Aviv despite current coop- game Arabia, according to a new congressional report. clear technology to the al-Saud regime will eration between Riyadh and Tel Aviv? ll eyes are on Idlib and the terrorist hen Pakistan premier Imran Khan To shed more light on the consequences of such be the most destabilizing and dangerous de- A: One of the pillars of Israeli foreign pol- group’s fate there. Media are re- took oath of office in August last act, we reached out to Nader Entessar, professor velopment in the long and cozy relationship icy in the region is preventing the emergence porting on massive preparations year, there was a lot of specu- A emeritus of political science from university of between Washington and Riyadh. of another nuclear-capable state in the region. W by the and its dispatch to the lation about his government’s foreign South Alabama. In other words, ’s regional foreign policy northern fronts of the country. As the Saudi Kingdom is the main sponsor policy, especially relations with Tehran Following is the full text of our interview emphasizes that country’s nuclear monopoly and More equipment has been sent to Idlib of Takfiri extremism all around the world, what and Riyadh. with him: supremacy. suburbs, and troops under the command can be consequences of such act globally? 7 His victory speech, in which he firmly of the famous general, Suheil al-Hassan, declared his commitment to strengthen ties are based in the outskirts. The equipment with allies in the Middle East, mentioning includes tanks and other weapons, as the Saudi Arabia and Iran in the same breath, Syrian army prepares to recapture Idlib. Analysis of MBS trip to three Asian countries was seen as an indication of Islamabad’s Many Syrian force have been stationed at By Saied Sobhani this trip seems to have been just to hang around. Two possible scenarios of MBS’s balancing act between the two regional Jourin base in the northwest of the coun- TEHRAN — Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mo- Second, the Pakistani media reported Riyadh trip to Asian counties: heavyweights. tryside beyond and in al-Ahmar hammed Bin Salman’s Asian tour happens while has paid for the trip expenses in full, from MBS First, since Mohammad bin Salman couldn’t More importantly, it appeared a wel- in Jab al-Ahmar village in Latakia and still the murder of Jamal Khashoggi is a cloud personal stuff to 3,500 doves bought at local face the West after ordering the killing of come shift from his predecessor Nawaz surrounds. hanging over him. market flown when the Saudi Crown Prince khashoggi, concluded by the CIA, he decided Sharif’s overt and barefaced proximity General Suheil al-Hassan is ’s The trips, each with its own goals and mes- steps out of his plan and is welcomed in the to go eastward to avert attention from the issue. towards Riyadh. most notorious commander who is said sages, were accompanied by specific incidents Asian countries. He was sending a message to the U.S. that he The overwhelming influence of military to be undefeated in war. He has achieved such as explosions that incurred which delayed Third, the cancellation of MBS trip to Malaysia is willing to have nuclear cooperation with leadership in Pakistan, especially in foreign significant success in battles against armed bin Salman’s trip to other countries on the and Indonesia without a particular reason shows , and Pakistan and invest in the East, policy matters, is an undeniable fact. Many terrorist groups in Syria. Known as the schedule. no specific objective behind the trip. should Washington go easy on him. MBS also observers believe Sharif’s eventful political Tiger, he successfully used psychological Here are some points regarding Two pivotal points about Saudi sought to improve Saudi Arabia’s image after career was cut short by the military, and warfare techniques using large speakers MBS Asian tour: Crown Prince trip to Pakistan are: the rise of Qataris. Khan was brought in as his replacement. that spread frightening messages. First, MBS’s Asian tour being delayed by a - Pakistan’s nuclear program and Saudis’ Second, the U.S. has orchestrated a move While some astute political pundits The terrorist groups that day is a rare diplomatic incident and displays nuclear ambition in which MBS on behalf of the U.S. and in line were of the opinion that Khan, a cricket- are in Idlib disarranged travel schedule, while trips of such - Terrorist groups, who the army provides with the support of terrorism makes attempts to er-turned-politician, too would have lim- There are various terrorist groups in nature are packed with back to back programs that political coverage for get to compete in elections turn Iran-Pakistan relations sour and negatively ited say in foreign policy matters, it was Idlib, the most important of which is the leaves no room for errors. Thus, the objective of to silence the opposition voices influence Tehran-Delhi oil interaction. 6 widely believed that relations between Iran Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly called and Pakistan would improve under him. Jabhat al-Nusra. In particular, since July When the new government in Islam- 2017, the group has had the most influ- abad rebuffed the United States saying ence in Idlib. it reserves the right to ‘pursue legitimate Smaller groups are Jaysh al-Badia and economic and commercial interests’ with Jaysh al-Malahim fighting in the south Iran in the wake of re-imposition of eco- of Idlib. On January 11, 2018, Jaysh ‘23 Individuals’ nomic sanctions on Tehran by the Trump al-Malahim issued a statement saying it administration, it was significant on many was fighting in southern Idlib alongside tops at Qoqnus counts. Jaysh al-Badiya. The statement was a clear indication The Turkistan Islamic Party, which has Screen Awards that the Imran Khan government would close ties to al-Qaeda found in Xinjiang not buckle under the U.S. pressure and Province, western China, is considered TEHRAN — “23 Individuals” by Mehdi would chart its own independent foreign broadly as a terrorist group but is present Jafari, an epic movie about 23 young Ira- policy. That was something his predecessor in Syria. The group has media tools such nian volunteers who were captives during had failed to do. as the Telegram, which publishes their the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, was crowned Khan even said that his government statements and activities. best film at the 8th edition of the Qoqnus would revive the ambitious Iran-Pakistan In July 2017, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham de- Screen Awards on Friday. pipeline project that was put on the back- feated its only serious rival, Ahrar al-Sh- Organized by the Art Bureau of the Islamic burner by the previous government under

am, for factional dominance in Syria’s Behnam Tofighi Ideology Dissemination Organization, the the pressure of Riyadh and Washington. insurgent-held northwest, centered on Qoqnus Screen Awards honors revolutionary All these developments seemed encourag- Idlib province. films and cineastes. ing and suggested that the new government Other groups include other movements Despite their standard procedure for in Islamabad, which came to power on the such as Nour Al-Din Al-Zinki , Jaysh Al-Ah- honoring cineastes in various categories, plank of ‘Naya Pakistan’ (New Pakistan), rar, Faylaq al-Sham, Jaish al-Ezzah, (a the organizers decided to present only four would chart an independent course, without Tehran Times/ Tehran Times/ flagged faction), and awards this year. 16 succumbing to the influence of Western and some smaller groups in Idlib. 7 Arab powers. 6 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS FEBRUARY 24, 2019 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Iran to become Iran well able to block oil sales but hopes dead offensive should enemy it won’t come to that, Shamkhani says attack: general POLITICS TEHRAN — Ali Sham- provides for the government. deskkhani, secretary of the In 2018, the U.S. government imposed POLITICS TEHRAN —Brigadier General Hossein desk Supreme National Security Council, says new rounds of sanctions on Iran after its May Salami, the Islamic Revolution Guards Iran has multiple methods at its disposal withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Corps second-in-command, on Saturday highlighted Iran’s for blocking the region’s oil exports but Plan of Action (JCPOA), the official name preparedness to counter foreign threats, saying should “we hope we wouldn’t be pressed into for the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. the enemy dare to attack the Islamic Republic, Iran will using them.” In comments in January, President become offensive to the core. In an interview with Tasnim published Hassan Rouhani said there are several In a speech in the southeastern city of Kerman, Salami on Saturday, Shamkhani said, “Cutting off methods available for Iran to sell its oil said a nation that cherishes martyrdom on the path of oil exports does not necessarily amount to despite U.S. sanctions. God will never be defeated and will never be fearful of the blocking the Strait of Hormuz. In fact there “We proudly get around the U.S. sanc- enemy. “The martyrs were martyred on the offensive,” he are multiple methods to make that happen.” tions,” Rouhani stated. asserted, Tasnim reported. He also said Iran has devised initiatives ‘UAE officials sending messages “The whole world should know that when we talk about to foil U.S. sanctions on its oil exports, un- for clearing up misunderstandings martyrdom it does not mean that we stand still so that the derlining that Tehran has multiple ways with Iran’ enemy attack us and kill us,” he added. to sell its crude. Shamkhani, an ethnic Arab from Khuz- “The Islamic Republic of Iran has de- estan province, also said attempts by Wash- Military: Raid signed and put into practice initiatives that ington to create a coalition against Iran will would neutralize the illegal U.S. sanctions get nowhere, noting there is differences on border guard against Iran’s export of oil,” he said. between Arabs in dealing with Iran. killers will be Shamkhani argued that although the “Even the (United Arab) Emirates’ po- U.S. pressures may inflict some costs on sition are not quite compatible with Saudi relentless Iran, but they could not undermine the Arabia, and there is officials in the Emirates Islamic Republic’s resolve. the huge turnout in the recent countrywide the Islamic Revolution as an example of who are sending messages for clearing up POLITICS TEHRAN — Brigadier General Abolfa- The top security official also pointed to rallies celebrating the 40th anniversary of the great support that the Iranian society misunderstandings.” deskzl Shekarchi, a senior spokesman for the Iranian military, has said armed forces will not rest until they severely punish those terrorists who killed the IRGC border guards on Feb. 13 in the southeastern province of IAEA reaffirms Iran’s compliance to nuclear deal Sistan- Baluchestan, IRNA reported on Saturday. By staff and agency In a speech to a security conference in Munich on Febru- Shekarchi said the next steps for taking revenge from The International Atomic Energy Agency has reaffirmed ary 16, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Europe should terrorists will be announced soon, adding, “We are resisting Iran’s compliance to the 2015 nuclear deal, which is follow Washington’s lead in pulling out of the nuclear deal. until the death of our enemies.” known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. However, the European Union rebuffed the offer. He was referring to the suicide attack on a bus carrying Iran has remained within the key limits on its nuclear On January 31, France, Germany and Britain an- IRGC forces on February 13, which killed and injured doz- activities imposed by its 2015 deal with major powers nounced the creation of INSTEX, a special purpose ens of the forces. A terrorist group called Jeish al-Adl later despite growing pressure from newly reimposed U.S. vehicle aimed at facilitating legitimate trade between claimed responsibility for the incident. sanctions, a report by the UN nuclear watchdog showed European economic operators and Iran. on Friday, according to Reuters. The European Union foreign policy chief Federica 55 tons of In a quarterly report distributed to member states Mogherini, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Dri- on Friday, the IAEA said Iran has kept to the caps an, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and British illegal drugs placed on its uranium enrichment levels and enriched Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said INSTEX will uranium stocks. support legitimate European trade with Iran. seized since The UN nuclear watchdog has confirmed Iran’s com- Despite repeated confirmations by the IAEA, U.S. It added that INSTEX will function under the high- March 2018 pliance to the JCPOA for 14 times since the deal went into President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled Washington est international standards with regards to anti-money force in January 2016. The deal was signed in July 2015 out of the JCPOA in May 2018 and ordered reimposition laundering, combating the financing of terrorism (AML/ POLITICS TEHRAN — The commander of Iran’s in Vienna between Iran, the five permanent members of sanctions against Iran. CFT) and EU and UN sanctions compliance. deskborder police has said 55 tons of illegal of the UN Security Council (the U.S., Britain, France, The U.S. has also threatened to punish any company Russia and China have also remained publicly com- drugs have been confiscated since the beginning of the Russia, and China) plus Germany. that do business with Iran. mitted to the existing accord. current Iranian year, starting March 21, 2018. Addressing a conference on geopolitical developments at Iranian borders, Qassem Rezaei said no country in the world faces the same amount of border threats as Iran does, Iran not to take decision on nuclear deal emotionally: Salehi IRNA reported on Saturday. POLITICS TEHRAN — Ali Akbar in exchange for termination of economic and consequences. The border threats are not comparable with those of before deskSalehi, director of Iran’s financial sanctions. The FATF concluded this week at a the Islamic Revolution, Rezaei remarked. Atomic Energy Organization, said on Sat- FATF move ‘proves the other side meeting that “there are still items not com- The border police chief added that border guards have urday that Tehran will not take decision on does not want us to reach a deadlock’ pleted” and said in a statement it “expects three duties, first military and defensive, second enforcement the 2015 nuclear deal emotionally. Commenting on the Paris-based Financial Iran to proceed swiftly in the reform path”, and third diplomatic ones. “As it was said by the Leader of the Islamic Action Task Force (FATF) action in extend- according to Reuters. Revolution [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei] ing suspension of its measures against Iran, One of the actions Iran is required to take Army fires clearly, we monitor the other side’s actions in Salehi said, “The move proves that the other to appease the FATF is joining the United order to take wise actions and avoid deciding side does not want us to reach a deadlock.” Nations Convention against Transnational cruise missiles, based on emotion,” he said on the sidelines “We will take any decision that serves Organized Crime (UNTOC), which is also of visiting an exhibition. the national interests,” he noted. called the Palermo Convention, a 2000 United torpedoes in According to a new report released by The Paris-based FATF watchdog an- Nations-sponsored multilateral treaty against war game the UN nuclear watchdog on Friday, Iran nounced on Friday that Iran has until June transnational organized crime. should vet the bill for compliance with the has remained within the key limits on its to fix its anti-money laundering and terrorism The other action is to join the CFT (the con- Constitution. POLITICS TEHRAN — Iran’s Navy on Saturday nuclear activities imposed by its 2015 deal financing rules or face increased international vention combatting financing of terrorism). According to the constitution, in cases deskfired several homegrown cruise missiles with major powers despite growing pressure scrutiny of its banks. On October 7, 2018, the Majlis (parlia- when the parliament and the Guardian and torpedoes from its vessels and submarines on the from newly reimposed U.S. sanctions. Last October, the global watchdog had ment) voted in favor of the CFT. However, Council disagree on a bill the issue is re- second day of war games in the Persian Gulf and the Sea Under the nuclear deal, officially called already given Iran until February to com- the oversight Guardian Council rejected the ferred to the Expediency Council for final of Oman, Fars reported. the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran plete an action plan of reforms that would bill by finding 22 faults with it. arbitration. The bill is now under study Iranian naval forces on Friday started a massive three- agreed to put limits on its nuclear activities bring it in line with global norms, or face To become a law, the Guardian Council by the Expediency Council. day drill in an area of two million square kilometers, from the strategic Strait of Hormuz to the southeastern coasts of Makran, the Sea of Oman and the northern parts of U.S. planned but failed to keep Daesh Russia calls U.S. pressure on business with the Indian Ocean. On Saturday, Naqdi destroyer and Tabarzin mis- alive for decades: Hatami Iran ‘unacceptable’, ‘deeply concerning’ sile-launching frigate fired two home-made Qader and TEHRAN —The By staff and agency Qadir cruise missiles at targets. POLITICS deskUnited States Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign planned to keep Daesh in the region Ministry spokeswoman, said on Friday that Pakistan Army for 30 to 40 years but it failed, Iranian the U.S. attempts to stop Russia’s lawful Defense Minister Amir Hatami said operations in Iran are “unacceptable” and vows to work with on Saturday. “deeply concerning”. Brigadier General Hatami made According to UrduPoint News, Zakharo- Iran to prevent the remarks at the opening ceremony va told reporters that an “openly biased” terror acts of Forerunners of Technology and New York-based organization called Unit- Industry exhibition in Tehran. ed Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) had sent Munich on February 16, U.S. Vice Pres- POLITICS TEHRAN — The Pakistani Army tries Hatami further pointed to Wash- letters to Russian firms operating in Iran ident Mike Pence said Europe should deskto prevent terrorist attacks like what ington’s failures, saying, “They want- and has won both peace and war. “They giving them two weeks to report on their follow Washington’s lead in pulling out happened to IRGC forces on Zahedan-Khash border on ed to show to our neighbors that our started the war but we finished it,” activities in the Islamic Republic. of the nuclear deal. Feb. 13 and it will cooperate with Iran to investigate the defense power is dangerous but we he stated. “We think such actions are unacceptable Over 50 pro-diplomacy organizations in case, Director General of Pakistan’s Inter Services Public showed that our power is for regional The defense chief also said 85 and deeply concerning.” the United States have slammed Trump’s Relations (ISPR) said on Friday. peace and security.” percent of Iran’s defense needs are “Attempts to pressure and threaten aggressive anti-Iran policy, calling on con- Iran and Pakistan enjoy great cooperation to enhance “Today, the enemies are targeting produced domestically, stressing Russian business ... are a follow-up on the gressmen to stand against Washington’s the security in common borders and these ties will continue, the souls of our people… The enemies that Fateh missile, Fakour air-to- dishonorable anti-Iranian cause by the U.S. sanctions and press it to return to the 2015 Major General Asif Ghafoor said, Mehr reported. want our people to become disappoint- air missile, Hoveyzeh missile, Fateh administration,” the spokeswoman said. multinational nuclear deal. There are third parties who want to sow discord between ed in and distrustful of the establish- submarine and Kowsar aircraft are In May 2018, U.S. President Donald They said that the anti-Iran bans “dis- the friendly countries of Iran and Pakistan, he said, adding ment but they will not succeed,” he among the top achievements of Iran’s Trump unilaterally pulled Washington rupt any party’s implementation of the that terrorism is a common challenge for all regional countries said, Mehr reported. defense sector. out of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) JCPOA,” “prevent the United States from and all should cooperate to resolve the issue. “We should not be disappointed Referring to Fateh submarine as and ordered reimposition of sanctions coming back into compliance with the because today we stand on a more a great achievement, Hatami said against Iran. JCPOA in the future,” “disproportionately secure platform,” he added. everyone knows that designing and The U.S. has threatened to punish any impact Iranian civilians” and “block nec- Ugandan FM Hatami said Iran has managed to producing submarines is more com- company that do business with Iran. essary humanitarian and medical supplies welcomes better foil the enemies’ plots in the region, plicated than producing aircraft. In a speech to a security conference in from reaching the country.” ties with Iran Rouhani: Technology can weather sanctions pressure POLITICS TEHRAN — Ugandan Foreign Minister desk POLITICS TEHRAN — In remarks on Saturday, knowledge-based corporations to help.” Rouhani also noted that technological and scientific Sam Kutesa said on Saturday that his coun- desk try is determined to widen relations with Iran and welcomes President Hassan Rouhani suggested The president said his government attaches great im- progress can be achieved when there is an atmosphere for the contribution of Iranian companies, IRNA reported. that development of technology can lessen the effects of portance to self-sufficiency to counter the hegemonic freedom of thought. Speaking at a meeting in Kampala with Iranian Ambassador sanctions pressure on Iran. system in the world. “If there is a free-thinking environment then technology to Uganda Morteza Mortazavi, Kutesa said Uganda is an inde- Rouhani made the remarks while addressing managers He promised that interactions between the government will blossom as the fruit of science.” pendent country and is not obligated to follow the unilateral of knowledge-based corporations in Tehran. and the knowledge-based corporations will be facilitated. In an open reference to U.S. President Donald Trump who approach of some countries which try to exert pressure on Iran The president, who also inspected products of knowl- “Sanctions are intended to deter advancement of tech- is struggling to build a wall along the border with Mexico, to keep it from cooperating with other countries. edge-based companies along with his deputy for science and nology and we should use sanctions as an opportunity to Rouhani said, “Any country that surrounds itself with walls Mortazavi, on behalf of Foreign Minister Mohammad technology Sorena Sattari, said, “Technology will open the develop technology,” Rouhani suggested. will be annihilated from within.” Javad Zarif, invited Kutesa to visit Iran. The invitation was doors and solve the problems.” In a violation of the UN Security Council resolution 2231, He added, “Certain countries are now trying to build welcomed by the Ugandan side. He said, “Knowledge-based corporations can counter the Trump administration withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 walls and they are ignorant of the fact their progress is due the enemy’s pressure. At current juncture, we expect the nuclear deal and rolled back sanctions against Iran. to the time that there was no wall.” I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 24, 2019 INTERNATIONAL tells U.S. not to leave power Palestinians enter sealed vacuum in Syria withdrawal al-Aqsa area after 16 years Turkey’s defense minister told Pentagon of- A U.S. official told CNN Thursday that the Palestinians worshippers have managed to gain access to the ficials there must not be a vacuum of power remaining U.S. troops will be able to provide Israeli-restricted Bab al-Rahma area of the al-Aqsa Mosque in during the withdrawal of U.S. forces from unique high-end capabilities -- such as logis- the occupied Old City of East Jerusalem al-Quds. Syria, state-owned Anadolu news agency tics, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance Thousands of worshippers, who gained access to the area reported on Saturday. and calling in airstrikes -- that would help on Friday, were responding to calls by Palestinian clerics — in- A senior U.S. administration official said encourage coalition countries like France cluding al-Aqsa Mosque’s Mufti Ekrima Sa’id Sabri — to gather on Friday Washington would leave about 400 and the United Kingdom to also keep their in the Bab al-Rahma sector for Friday prayers, according to the U.S. troops split between two Syrian regions, troops in Syria to help ensure the safe zone. Palestinian Information . a reversal by President Donald Trump that Turkish officials have expressed concerns Bab al-Rahma, with a gate of the same name, consists of a could pave the way for U.S. allies to keep that U.S.-backed Kurdish forces would carry large building and a courtyard that lie east of the al-Aqsa Mosque troops in Syria. out terrorist attacks in Turkey, and the U.S.- compound. “We reminded our partners that there backed forces have worried about the fret of The building was sealed by Israeli authorities in 2003 after should be no vacuum of power in any way a Turkish invasion. they claimed it was being used by Palestinians for political activ- during the withdrawal,” Defense Minister Speaking prior to his meeting with Dun- ities. Israeli authorities renewed the restriction order annually Hulusi Akar told Anadolu, describing his ford and Shanahan Friday, Turkish Minister until an Israeli court ordered the building closed until further talks in the United States with acting U.S. of Defense Hulusi Akar told reporters that notice in 2017. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan. they were “here to discuss policy issue in Israeli forces responded to the planned assembly on Fri- Trump had ordered the withdrawal of all detail,” saying that Turkey had no issue with day by setting up numerous roadblocks and checkpoints and 2,000 U.S. troops Syria in December after the Syrian Kurds but that they did consider arresting up to 60 Palestinians, according to various local saying they had defeated ISIL terrorists in Kurdish militia groups backed by the U.S. Palestinian sources. Syria. The abrupt decision sparked an outcry to be linked to groups that Ankara views as The Israeli measures, however, failed to stop the crowd from from allies and U.S. lawmakers. terrorist organizations. opening the gate and entering the area for prayers. But he was persuaded on Thursday that The senior administration official made Following the development, the Palestinian resistance move- about 200 U.S. troops would join what is clear that the observer force would not be ment of Hamas issued a statement describing the event as “a expected to be a total commitment of some Friday while addressing reporters at the Pen- a small group of reporters on Friday on the a United Nations-chartered peacekeeping new peaceful victory against the Israeli occupation.” 800 to 1,500 troops from European allies to set tagon prior to a meeting with his Turkish plans on condition of anonymity. force and would not face the same restrictive Tensions continue in the occupied Palestinian territories in up and observe a “safe zone” in northeastern counterpart. The defense official confirmed that Bolton rules of engagement that those forces face, the aftermath of a move by the United States to recognize Je- Syria, the U.S. administration official said. “I’m not going to talk troop numbers or convinced Trump to extend a U.S. presence but declined to elaborate on what those rules rusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital” and relocate its embassy Akar also said he repeated call for Kurdish troop movements but I think we saw some good on Thursday. of engagement would be. The forces would, to the occupied city. YPG militia fighters, which Ankara regards progress yesterday and today’s meeting really A U.S. official told CNN Thursday that the however, be combat-ready, the official said. The al-Aqsa Mosque compound is a flashpoint, highly re- as terrorists, to be removed from the “safe is about talking next steps,” Shanahan said. remaining U.S. troops will be able to provide The Joint Chiefs of Staff are continuing spected by Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike. The mosque is zone”, which Turkey wants to control. The U.S. and NATO allies are in the pro- unique high-end capabilities -- such as logis- to hammer out discussions with NATO al- Islam’s third holiest site after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Trump agrees to keep about cess of assembling what officials are calling a tics, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance lies, but given that a commitment of U.S. Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina. 400 U.S. troops in Syria “monitoring and observer” force of roughly and calling in airstrikes -- that would help troops was the Europeans’ main objection, (Source: Press TV) Donald Trump has agreed to keep about 800 to 1,500 troops to maintain a safe zone encourage coalition countries like France U.S. officials are optimistic that this force 400 U.S. troops in Syria after the withdrawal in northeastern Syria. The goal of the force and the United Kingdom to also keep their will be assembled. of most U.S. forces there this spring, a senior would be to maintain a buffer between Turkey troops in Syria to help ensure the safe zone. The senior administration official briefed administration official said Friday. and U.S.-allied forces to The decision ticks up the number of troops reporters on Friday after White House press Trump agreed on Thursday to keep about ensure that neither side carries out attacks that Trump is agreeing to maintain in Syr- secretary Sarah Sanders issued a brief one- 200 U.S. troops as part of planned multi- on the other. ia after he hastily announced his plans to line statement asserting that “a small peace More than 100 separatists national force that would maintain a safe A U.S. defense official said the force would withdraw U.S. troops from Syria late last keeping group of about 200 will remain in detained in Kashmir raids in zone in northeastern Syria, the official said. also have the aim of preventing an ISIS resur- year, stunning U.S. officials and allies and Syria for a period of time.” That figure did This force would be in addition to the 200 gence in northeast Syria though it is not clear triggering the resignation of Secretary of not take into account the presence of another pre-election crackdown troops the U.S. is planning to maintain after whether they would be involved in training Defense Jim Mattis. U.S. officials and allies 200 troops expected to remain at at-Tanf. the withdrawal at its base in at-Tanf, Syria, or advising local forces as part of this effort. have sought to mitigate the risk to U.S.-al- The defense official would not say how the official said. The U.S. initially planned to only provide lied Syrian opposition forces and to ensure many troops are to remain in at-Tanf, but Trump on Friday denied that the decision air support -- not ground troops -- to the that the U.S. can adequately respond to the confirmed that the U.S. military would main- represented a reversal of his previous position. observer force, but NATO allies objected potential resurgence of ISIS in the region. tain a presence there as part of its effort to “I’m not reversing course. I have done and said they would not contribute troops Planning for the multinational observer target ISIS remnants and prevent the terror something nobody else has been able to do,” toward such a mission without a U.S. troop force stems from an idea that Turkey proposed group’s resurgence. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. commitment, the official said. to Bolton and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs U.S. officials hope the multinational force He continued, “At the same time, we can It became clear to U.S. officials on Monday of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford during a visit in in northeastern Syria will minimize the risk leave a small force, along with others in the that the observer force would never become January, amid concerns about the potential of conflict between Turkey and U.S.-backed force, whether it’s NATO troops or whoever a reality absent an American commitment of for conflict between Turkey and U.S.-backed forces in Syria. it might be, so that it doesn’t start up again. ground troops. After consulting with State Kurdish forces. The Joint Chiefs has since U.S. officials are aiming to withdraw most And I’m OK. It’s a very small, tiny fraction and Defense Department officials, national been leading discussions with NATO allies U.S. troops from Syria by April, but a senior of the people we have and a lot of people like security adviser John Bolton met with Trump to assemble the force. administration official said Friday that date that idea and I’m open to ideas.” on Thursday and convinced him to agree to The defense official confirmed that Bolton could shift depending on how quickly the Acting Secretary of Defense Pat Shana- commit “a couple hundred” troops, said a convinced Trump to extend a U.S. presence multinational observer force is assembled. han refused to confirm Syria troop numbers senior administration official, who briefed Thursday. (Source: agencies) N. Korea’s Kim: I don’t want my children to bear burden of More than 100 separatists in Kashmir were detained in overnight raids, police officials said on Saturday, as part of a crackdown on nuclear arms groups that might cause trouble ahead of nationwide elections set to be held by May. The move comes days after a suicide car bombing killed at Kim begins train journey to Hanoi for summit with Trump least 40 Indian security personnel on Feb. 14. The Indian gov- ernment has warned that it will use all options in its power to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told the U.S. secretary of news agency reported on Saturday citing a North Korean avenge the attack claimed by Pakistan-based militant group state he did not want his children to live with the burden of diplomatic source. Jaish-e-Mohammed. nuclear weapons, a former CIA officer involved in high-level North Korea’s state media has yet to confirm either Kim’s “The arrival of more troops and the arrests of leaders and diplomacy over the North’s weapons was quoted as saying trip to Vietnam or his summit with Trump. activists of separatist groups is part of an election exercise un- on Saturday. Train journey to Hanoi dertaken to ensure free and fair elections,” said one senior police Kim made the rare personal comments to Mike Pompeo Kim Jong Un set off by train for Vietnam on Saturday, official in the state. during a visit to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, in for his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party is April last year to lay the groundwork for the historic first next week, Russia’s TASS news agency reported. set to seek re-election in nationwide polls that are due to be summit between the North’s leader and U.S. President Donald The report came hours after Vietnam announced that held by May. Trump in June in , former CIA official Andrew Kim would make an official visit in “coming days”, as the “Anti-election campaigns will not be allowed and separatists Kim said, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency and the Wall Southeast Asian country prepares to host the summit with will be detained to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in Street Journal reported. Trump on Wednesday and Thursday. the state,” the police official said. “’I’m a father and a husband. And I have children’,” Andrew No details of the leaders’ travel arrangements, or for the Last week’s attack has also raised tensions between nucle- Kim quoted the North Korean leader as telling Pompeo, when summit, have been officially released. ar-armed neighbors India and Pakistan, that both claim Kashmir asked whether he was willing to end his nuclear program. Trump and Kim will meet in the Vietnamese capital, Ha- in full but rule it in part. India blames Pakistan for harboring “’And I don’t want my children to carry the nuclear weapon noi, eight months after their historic summit in Singapore in militant groups operating in Kashmir. Pakistan has repeatedly on their back their whole life.’ That was his answer,” Andrew June - the first between a sitting U.S. president and a North himself was on board. denied the allegation. Kim told a lecture Friday at Stanford University’s Asia Pacific Korean leader - at which they pledged to work toward the Two sources with direct knowledge of security and logis- Following the attack, India retaliated by removing any trade Research Center, where he is a visiting scholar. complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. tics planning told Reuters on Wednesday that Vietnam was privileges offered to Pakistan, and it is now preparing to send as Before he retired from the CIA, Kim established the agen- But progress has been scant since then. preparing for Kim to arrive by train. many as ten thousand additional troops to the contested area, cy’s Korea Mission Center, in April 2017, and accompanied The Trump administration has pressed North Korea to His train is expected to stop at the Vietnamese border according to a letter from the country’s home ministry seen by Pompeo – who was then CIA director – to Pyongyang last year. give up its nuclear weapons program, which threatens the station of Dong Dang, where he will disembark and drive Reuters. In their Singapore summit, Kim and Trump pledged to United States, before it can expect any concessions. 170 km (105 miles) to Hanoi by car, the sources told Reuters. “India will exercise all instruments at its command, whether work towards peace between their countries and for the North Korea wants an easing of punishing U.S.-led sanc- Vietnamese police have stepped up security around the it is diplomatic or otherwise,” India’s Finance Minister Arun denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. tions, security guarantees and a formal end of the 1950-1953 border station. Jaitley said in New Delhi late on Friday. “This isn’t a one-week But little progress has been made since then and they Korean War, which ended in a truce, not a treaty. On Feb. 26, Vietnam will ban traffic on the road Kim battle. It’s to be undertaken in various forms.” are set to meet again in Hanoi on Wednesday and Thurs- Kim left the North Korean capital of Pyongyang at around is expected to take to Hanoi from a station on the Chinese Islamabad in turn has warned it would respond with “full day. They are expected to focus on what steps North Korea 5 p.m. (0800 GMT) in an armored train, TASS said, citing border, state media said. force” if attacked. might take towards denuclearization, in exchange for what a North Korean diplomatic source. Travel by train has been a favorite mode of transport for The overnight arrests in the state included those of many senior U.S. concession. North Korea’s state media has yet to confirm either Kim’s Kim Jong Un, and his father, Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, members of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), an Islamic organization that The former CIA officer said the North Korean leader trip to Vietnam or his summit with Trump. Kim Il Sung. wants Kashmir to be independent from India. expressed a strong desire to improve ties with the United It could take Kim at least two and a half days to travel the In 1958, Kim Il Sung went from Pyongyang to Beijing by The arrests led to violent scenes in parts of Kashmir, with States as a way to build confidence between them, which thousands of kilometers through China by train to Vietnam. train, then flew from Beijing to Hanoi in a plane provided stone-throwing protesters met by police firing tear gas. he said was needed to end the nuclear weapons program. A senior security official in Vietnam told Reuters that by China, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported on JeI’s leader, Dr Abdul Hamid Fayaz and Yasin Malik, the The North Korean leader left Pyongyang by train for Hanoi had been expecting a Vietnam-bound train to depart Saturday citing archived Chinese media reports. head of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) that wants his visit to Vietnam on Saturday afternoon, Russia’s TASS Pyongyang on Saturday, but did not know if Kim Jong Un (Source: agencies) independence from both India and Pakistan, were among those detained. A spokesman for India’s home ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the arrests or troop deployments. U.S., Russia to find ways to lift travel ban on Taliban leaders for peace talks Next week India’s Supreme Court is also expected to hear a The United States and Russia have agreed to explore options on U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who is lead- U.S. officials familiar with discussions said lifting the petition attempting to remove an article in the country’s con- securing travel waivers for Taliban negotiators to participate in ing the peace talks with the Taliban, discussed the issue of travel ban on some Taliban leaders could help accelerate stitution that prevents non-residents from moving to Jammu talks to end the war in Afghanistan, the U.S. peace envoy said lifting the travel ban for Taliban leaders with his Russian the pace of ongoing negotiations. and Kashmir, the Indian state that contains Muslim-majority ahead of a fresh round of peace talks scheduled on Monday. counterpart Zamir Kabulov in Ankara on Friday. The Afghan Taliban said it would resume negotiations Kashmir. If passed it could further escalate tensions in the Lifting the travel ban imposed over Taliban leaders by “Amb (Ambassador) Kabulov and I also discussed travel on Monday with the United States in Qatar, insisting the region. the United Nations has been one of the key demands of the barriers to talks. We will explore options for securing UN meeting “will prove positive” despite propaganda against A spokesman for JeI said the arrests of its members were a hardline group that started negotiations with U.S. officials travel waivers for Taliban negotiators to participate in peace the peace process. “well designed ploy,” ahead of any such ruling. in 2018 to end the 17-year-old war. talks,” he wrote on Twitter. (Source: Reuters) (Source: Reuters) II NN TT EE RR NN AA TT II OO NN AA LL DD AA II LL YY 4 ECONOMYADVERTISEMENTS FEBRUARYFEBRUARY 24, 24, 2019 2018 Oil to be offered at IRENEX every week: Zanganeh STOCK MARKET ENERGY TEHRAN— National The second round was on November TEDPIX 164267.8 deskIranian Oil Company 11 for offering 700,000 barrels of light IFX 2028.18 (NIOC) will offer crude oil at Iran Energy crude oil at the price of $76.29 per barrel. Exchange (IRENEX) every week, Iranian NIOC offered one million barrels of Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh light crude oil at IRENEX for the third told Islamic Consultative Assembly time on January 21. The set price for that News Agency (ICANA). round of oil sale was $52.42 per barrel. The minister said that it may take The third round witnessed some CURRENCIES some time for selling crude oil at advantages compared to the first and USD 42,000 rials IRENEX to be common and regular, but second rounds to facilitate purchase the oil ministry will offer the product process for the applicants. EUR 47,622 rials at this market every week. The fourth round of offering took place GBP 54,915 rials NIOC offered crude oil at IRENEX first on February 4, when one million barrels on October 28, just few days before new of light crude oil was offered at the base AED 11,437 rials U.S. sanctions on Iran’s petroleum sector price of $56.24 per barrel and the least Source: cbi.ir took effect (November 4). In the first round, amount of sale was 35,000 barrels. This NIOC could sell some 280,000 barrels of round ended with no deals. crude oil at $74.85 per barrel. With the Then on February 18, NIOC sold 35,000 daily supply amount of one million barrels, barrels of light crude oil at IRENEX at the market wrapped up by selling eight the base price of $52.25 per barrel for COMMODITIES 35,000-barrel-cargos of oil on the day. the fifth time. Brent $67.25/b WTI $57.26/b OPEC Basket $63.96/b Sierra Leone welcomes Iranian private sector investments ECONOMY TEHRAN— In a meeting between exports of oil seeds and cacao as well as some minerals of the development of close, friendly relations with Gold $1,328.95/oz deskAmbassador of Sierra Leone to Tehran to Iran to boost mutual trade. African countries, especially Sierra Leone as the western Silver $15.97/oz Alimamy Kamara and Head of Tehran Chamber of The TCCIMA head, for his part, voiced readiness gate to Africa for Iran, adding that “Iran and Sierra Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) of his private body for exchanging trade delegations Leone can develop their relations and cooperation Platinium $847.95 oz Masoud Khansari, the African envoy invited Iranian with Sierra Leone for recognizing mutual cooperation in different fields.” private sector to invest on his country’s education potentials. He also said that the Iranian private sector is ready to Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com and health sectors, the portal of TCCIMA reported. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani received the deepen ties with Sierra Leone, stressing the development Iranian private sector can help Sierra Leone with letter of credence of the new Ambassador of Sierra of relations and cooperation between Tehran and expanding its health centers and equipping its hospitals, Leone to Tehran in early February. Freetown in health, medicine, and agriculture, Mehr Kamara said, while the African country can improve its The Iranian president described the importance news agency reported at the time. Private sector should contribute to oil fields ‘Supportive package to be granted to Iran 90% self-sufficient in development: NIOC director expand exports by March 20’ manufacturing fuel station equipment ECONOMY 1 “The private sector can well handle a significant TEHRAN— A five- ENERGY TEHRAN— Iran has desk desk part of the government’s responsibilities in the oil trillion-rial (above achieved 90 percent industry,” he said, adding that this could be initiated $119 million) package is to be granted self-sufficiency in manufacturing equipment with small projects and small fields, and then move for backing exports from the country for fuel stations, Shana reported on to bigger projects. by the end of the present Iranian Saturday quoting head of planning and Earlier in December 2018, the official had said that calendar year 1397 (March 20, 2019), studies center for fuel stations. National Iranian Oil Company will transfer exploration IRIB quoted the acting head of Trade According to Ali Monshi, Iran is projects for oil and gas fields to domestic companies. Promotion Organization (TPO) as capable of exporting such equipment to “Plans are underway to award exploration projects saying on Saturday. the neighboring countries. to domestic companies now that the U.S. is putting Making the remarks at the 2nd Iran’s The official noted that currently about 7,000 pressure on foreign companies to operate in Iran”, International Exhibition and Conference fuel stations are active across Iran which creates that producing the necessary equipment Hendi said in a press conference. of Exhibition Industry, Mohammadreza a vast market for their related industries. for the fuel stations doesn’t require high Modoudi called on the parliament to He pointed to the potential for creating technology which makes it an even more extend utilization of the provided 1397 in the world, the official highlighted job opportunities through launching more attractive area for investment. supportive package to the next coming that the country has been successful filling stations in the country saying, “70 “More than 75 percent of filling stations NEWS IN BRIEF year on the way to back exports. in taking advantage of its capacities different jobs are related to filling stations”. in the country need to be renovated, Mentioning Iran’s exports share for exports. Elsewhere in his remark, Monshi noted repaired or replaced,” he added. ‘Stable housing prices predicted for next year’ European markets pinpoint just how bleak region’s ECONOMY TEHRAN— The housing market deskis predicted to witness stability in economy is the next Iranian calendar year (begins on March Wherever you look in Europe’s financial markets, 21, 2019), the head of National Property Advisers the signposts are pointing to the same thing: a Union announced. pronounced slowdown in the region’s economy Mostafa Gholi Khosravi also announced that the before the European Central Bank has even started IN THE NAME OF GOD number of real estate deals in Tehran has fallen 24 to normalize interest rates since the last one. Second Announcement percent during the first eleven months of the current While policy makers seem to hope that the ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN BROADCASTING Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2018 – February dip might be a brief one, traders are sending out 19, 2019) compared to the same period of time in a starker message. Traditional metrics -- the euro the previous year, Tasnim news agency reported on and bund yields -- are hovering near multi-year Saturday. lows, while inflation is expected to barely get off INTERNATIONAL TENDER NO. 97-11/202 the ground over the course of the next 10 years, Tender Holder: putting serious doubt on whether the ECB can hike Oil revenues rates anytime soon. ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN BROADCASTING (IRIB) share of budget ECB Pushback resources grows Traders in money markets are pushing Subject of Two-Stage Tender: expectations for a hike further into 2020. Purchasing HEVC Headend Equipment according to the tender documents in 9 months Axa Investment Managers, which oversees 759 billion euros ($860 billion), has a long position in 30-year bunds, benefiting from economic pessimism. Deadline of Receiving Documents: ECONOMY TEHRAN— According to the For Citigroup Inc. too, flagging inflation means desk As of publishing second announcement of advertisement latest by the business hour dated on Wednesday latest report of the economic the bund rally may have room to extend while for department of Iran’s finance ministry, the share Societe Generale SA, the euro is still overvalued February 27, 2019. of oil revenues in supplying the required budget on a trade-weighted basis, despite it being one of in the first nine months of the current Iranian the worst performers this year. Place of Receiving Documents: calendar year (March 21- December 21, 2018) Potential fracture points for the region’s economy has increased, IRIB reported on Saturday. abound. Its third-biggest economy, Italy, slipped Secretariat of Tenders’ Commission, Technical Purchasing (KALA) Dept., Media Technology and “In comparison with the same time in the into recession in the second half of last year while its Development Deputy Office, Bldg. No. 2, IRIB, Jam-e Jam St., Vali-e Asr Ave., Tehran preceding year, share of oil revenues in supplying powerhouse Germany only just avoided it. Political the pre-planned budget has increased by 40 stumbling blocks also litter the landscape, with percent in the said nine months,” the same report the contraction in Italy putting more pressure on Type and Amount of Guarantee for Participating in Tender: confirmed. its fledgling government and its investment-grade The amount of USD 39,900 which should be in the form of extendable bank guarantee credit rating, and European Parliamentary elections could herald a populist wave in May. Here’s what markets are saying about the region: Time and Place of Delivering Priced Bid: Inflation The sealed A, B & C packages/envelopes should be submitted within one main envelope marked with Turkey’s central bank posts Inflation may be tepid now, clocking in at just 1.4 tender number no later than 15 p.m. on Monday April 15, 2019 and submitted to the Secretariat of $10.7b net profit in 2018 percent in the year through January, but the outlook may be even more concerning for the ECB. A gauge based Commission of Tenders. The Central Bank of Turkey (CBRT) on Saturday announced on derivative prices shows the five-year inflation rate will be just 1.45 percent five years from now, well below it posted a net profit of nearly 56.3 billion Turkish liras ($10.7 Time and Place of Opening Envelopes billion) in 2018. the ECB’s target of less than, but close to, 2 percent. The bank’s net profit surged over 200 percent year-on-year, That will likely keep bunds near their recent The date of opening envelopes A&B is at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday April 17, 2019 in the office of Vice up from some 18.4 billion liras ($4.8 billion) in 2017. highs, according to Citigroup analysts led by Jamie President of IRIB Planning and Financial Resources and opening of envelope C will be after technical According to the CBRT’s 87th accounting period balance sheet, Searle. There is no sign of the reflation that spawned the bank’s assets totaled 721.5 billion liras ($137.2 billion), rising a 90-basis-point “tantrum” in the securities in 2015. evaluation. 13.2 percent on a yearly basis. “Five-year, five-year inflation was the early It should be noted that bidders should hold license from the authorized bodies. Gold assets in international standard amounted to 488.5 warning signal for the tantrum and it’s not moving,” tons, worth 105.9 billion liras ($20.1 billion) as of Dec. 31, 2018. the strategists wrote in a note. “That means the The U.S. dollar/Turkish lira exchange rate was 5.26 at the rally probably isn’t over.” For more information, please contact the following phone numbers: 0098-21-22166313 end of last year, versus 3.80 at the end of 2017. Rate expectations It is obvious that cost of publishing two advertisements shall be borne by the winner of tender. Last month, the bank held an Extraordinary General Assembly In short, interest-rate expectations have collapsed Meeting to distribute 33.7 billion lira ($6.3 billion) advance over the last six months. Traders are not pricing Public Relations Dept. of IRIB dividend to shareholders. the first ECB rate hike since 2011 until June next The CBRT’s General Assembly meeting is normally held in year, while many in the market are betting that the April, as the meeting was held in January to provide liquidity institution won’t be able to raise rates at all before for the market earlier. the next recession. (Source: Hurriyet Daily) (Source: CNBC) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 24, 2019 ENERGY 5

New oil and gas project investment What oil-tanker rates can tell traders about OPEC members’ set to triple in 2019’s stable climes compliance with cuts Savvy oil traders keep an eye on the cost of moving crude via tankers The energy market can expect a surge in oil and included in these numbers.” for myriad clues to the underlying supply and demand picture. But gas project approvals in 2019, as operators in While 2019 is poised to be a bumper year, one analyst is warning investors not to get fooled into thinking that the sector are playing catch-up to clear final Rystad Energy data indicates that FID levels a bounce in one closely watched rate is a signal that OPEC producers investment decisions (FIDs) on endeavors have been gradually improving. Things got are surreptitiously loosening the spigots. that were put on ice in the wake of the 2015 off to a good start in the first half of 2018 and Michael Tran, a commodity analyst at RBC Capital Markets, crude price slump. were on track to outpace the tally for 2017, noted Thursday that day rates for tankers known as very large crude With Brent, the global proxy benchmark, but several project deferrals during the fourth carriers, or VLCC, to move crude from the Persian Gulf to Asia fell oscillating in a range-bound $60-70 per quarter – coinciding with a steep drop in from nearly $60,000 a day in the fourth quarter of last year to a barrel bracket, projections put forward by oil prices – prevented that from happening. low of $15,000 a day earlier this month. That was no shock given Rystad Energy suggest FIDs this year on However, there are downside risks to that an agreement by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting new petroleum projects worldwide could see this forecast. “This year’s harvest of FIDs Countries and its allies to cut output took effect in January. sanctioned volumes of oil and gas – excluding are incredibly top-heavy: delays to a few The rate is one that can be watched for a “loose” indication of shale and tight oil and gas prospects – nearly megaprojects currently expected to be how well members of OPEC are complying with production meas- triple compared to last year’s tally. approved in the second half of 2019 could ures, he said. So it’s no surprise that a bounce off that low back to The Oslo, Norway-headquartered global turn the volume down significantly,” cautions around $30,000 a day this week (see chart above) triggered “knee energy industry research and analysis firm Islam. jerk” thoughts that compliance was slipping, particularly with Iraqi reckons collective volumes could swell past 46 And Rystad Energy does not expect that the exports surging to nearly 4 million barrels a day in early February, billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe). There 2019 FID surge will result in a proportionate up around 230,000 barrels a day from the same time last year. Iraq, are three main factors driving this growth increase in contracting opportunities for the along with Libya, Iran and Venezuela, are exempt from the OPEC cuts. in 2019, it adds. oilfield service (OFS) sector. When considering But check that thought, Tran said, as it appears compliance overall For starters, following the 2014-15 crude fields of 25 million boe and above, which remains relatively high. A monitoring committee set up by OPEC price crash, operators hit the drawing boards account for more than 97 percent of the and its allies found compliance with the cuts at 83 percent, Reuters to try to make their projects fly at lower prices, forecast volume, there is an increase of less reported on Wednesday, though not everyone is impressed by how resulting in project delays. “Now they are make up a third of the estimated FID volumes billions of subcontracting dollars in coming than 12 percent to the 2019 FID count in well participants are sticking to the deal. starting to play catch-up. These delayed this year. years,” Islam adds. relation to the number of individual projects Meanwhile, the efforts by producers, particularly Saudi Arabia, projects can make up almost a quarter of Finally, Saudi Arabia “appears likely” “The only supply segment likely to shrink sanctioned in 2018. have been seen contributing to a rally that’s seen Brent crude LCOJ9, the FID volumes in 2019,” says Readul Islam, to greenlight three major offshore shelf this year is the oil sands, whereas deepwater, “The silver lining for many suppliers as -0.24 percent the global benchmark, jump by around 25 percent Research Analyst at Rystad Energy. expansion projects that would collectively offshore shelf and other conventional they navigate an ultra-competitive landscape since the end of last year, while the U.S. benchmark, West Texas Secondly, as demand for cleaner fuels rises, account for nearly a fifth of global FID onshore developments are all poised to show is that the huge projects sanctioned during Intermediate crude CLJ9, +0.19 percent has risen around 26 percent. the threat of an LNG undersupply developing volumes in 2019. substantial growth. From a geographical 2019 will generate contracts worth billions So why the bounce in VLCC rates? Tran said it looks like more ships by the mid-2020s is likely to spur sanctions “Put it all together, and we expect global perspective, all regions are headed for robust of dollars for facilities and services in the are running empty in an effort to capitalize on a U.S. export boom. for natural gas projects in Africa, Australia, FID volumes in 2019 to triple over last year, growth except Europe and North America, years to follow,” Islam concludes. He said so-called channel checks — the practice of collecting data the Middle East and Russia. LNG projects and 2019’s megaproject awards could lead to still bearing in mind that shale plays are not (Source: Forbes) from a company’s customers, suppliers, employees and even rivals to gauge the health of a business — with physical shipping contacts “have suggested that rallying rates are a function of vessels leaving the Middle East due to lack of work and traveling empty en route to Exxon to use Microsoft tech to boost Nord Stream 2 created 30,000 new the U.S. Gulf as the region gears up for an elevated degree of exports.” Permian oil output, profitability jobs in Europe: chamber of commerce (Source: Market Watch) ExxonMobil has forged a digital partnership The construction of the Nord Stream-2 Saudis signal allure of China with Microsoft to use cloud technology to gas pipeline has created 30,000 jobs in increase oil production and profitability in Europe, the German-Russian Chamber of with $10 billion refinery deal its key growth area, the Permian, the U.S. Commerce said in a statement Thursday. oil supermajor said on Friday. “Over the past five years, the EU’s Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its interest in the Chinese market with a Under the deal with Microsoft, Exxon will largest infrastructure project to date has deal to build a $10 billion refining and petrochemicals complex as it use an integrated cloud environment that created 30,000 new jobs in Europe,” the vies for crude-oil customers with fellow OPEC members and Russia. securely and reliably collects real-time data statement said. Saudi Arabian Oil Co., or Aramco, agreed to set up a joint venture from oil field assets spanning hundreds of Over 70 percent of German nationals with two Chinese companies to develop the facility in Liaoning prov- miles. The data will enable ExxonMobil to welcome Nord Stream 2, as the pipeline ince, according to a statement Friday. Saudi Arabia is investing in make faster and better decisions on drill- would reduce prices for gas and electric energy assets across Asia, the world’s biggest oil-consuming region, ing optimization, well completions, and manner,” said Staale Gjervik, senior vice energy. Chamber of Commerce, representing more as it battles for market share. prioritization of personnel deployment, president, Permian Integrated Develop- “Apart from companies, European than 850 member companies,… stands The kingdom will supply as much as 70 percent of the crude need- the oil giant said. ment for Exxon. households and ordinary consumers will for consistent construction and timely ed by the new complex, which will include a 300,000-barrel-a-day According to Exxon, the partnership Exxon’s unconventional production in also feel a decrease in gas and electricity commissioning of the gas pipeline,” the refinery, an ethylene cracker and a paraxylene unit, the statement will make its Permian operations the larg- the Permian continued to ramp up in the prices after the Nord Stream 2 project statement said. shows. The deal, signed while Crown Prince Mohammed bin Sal- est-ever oil and gas acreage to use cloud fourth quarter of 2018, the supermajor said is implemented. German population It said the companies involved in the man is in Beijing, follows recent Saudi pledges to fund projects in technology. The application of the cloud earlier this month, noting that production appreciates these advantages. According Nord Stream-2 project insisted that the India and Pakistan, as well as agreements to invest in South Korea’s technology is expected to generate billions surged by more than 90 percent from the to a poll on Nord Stream 2 conducted existing agreements on the project must Hyundai Oilbank Co. and a petrochemical complex in Malaysia. of U.S. dollars in net cash flow for Exxon same quarter of 2017. by the Forsa Public Opinion Institute in remain in force. The slew of Asian partnerships formed by state-run Aramco comes over the next decade, as data analysis and Exxon’s total global liquids production January this year, 73 percent of Germans The Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture as Saudi Arabia plays catch-up with Russia, which has topped the operational efficiencies improve. in Q4 rose by 4 percent from prior-year support construction of the gas pipeline between the Russian company Gazprom, kingdom in oil sales to China in the past couple of years. The partnership has the potential to quarter, driven by growth in the Permian. and only 16 percent reject it,” the chamber Engie of France, OMV of Austria, the The Saudis will team up with China North Industries Group expand Exxon’s production in the Per- Oil-equivalent production was 4.010 mil- said in a statement. Anglo-Dutch company Royal Dutch Shell, Corp., or Norinco, and Panjin Sincen to form an entity called Huajin mian by 50,000 oil-equivalent barrels a lion bpd in Q4, exceeding 4 million bpd The German-Russian Chamber of as well as the Germany companies Uniper Aramco Petrochemical Co., according to Friday’s statement. The day by 2025. for the first time in nearly two years. A Commerce supported the consistent and Wintershall. project is expected to start operations in 2024. “Through our partnership with Micro- major growth driver of production came implementation of the Nord Stream-2 The project aims to deliver 55 billion “Our agreement today with Norinco and the Liaoning province soft, we’re combining our technical and from the Permian, where Exxon plans to gas pipeline, a statement released by the cubic meters of Russian natural gas per is a clear demonstration of Saudi Aramco’s strategy to move from engineering expertise with cloud and data triple its production by 2025 to more than business community on Thursday said. year to the European Union via the Baltic beyond a buyer-seller relationship, to one where we can make sig- analytics capabilities to develop the Per- 600,000 oil-equivalent barrels. “In the discussion around the Nord Sea, bypassing Ukraine. nificant investments to contribute to China’s economic growth and mian resource in the most capital-efficient (Source: CNBC) Stream 2 project, the German-Russian (Source: Sputnik) development,” Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser said. Saudi Aramco will take a 35 percent stake in the new company, while Norinco and Panjin Sincen will hold 36 percent and 29 percent, respectively. The ethylene facility will have an annual capacity of 1.5 million tons and the paraxylene unit, 1.3 million tons. Permian producers face diverging outlook for oil, gas in 2019 Aramco also plans to establish a fuel-retail business in China, according to the statement. By the end of 2019, a “three-party mar- Producers in the Permian Basin are getting the gas market. keting JV” is expected to be formed between the Saudi company, mixed signals from midstream markets in Many U.S. Gulf Coast refiners are now North Huajin and Liaoning Transportation Construction Investment 2019, as increasingly unconstrained crude reaching maximum light, sweet capacity, Group Co. to develop a filling-stations network, it said. oil production continues to lift associated meaning that much of the crude produc- An initial framework agreement for the Liaoning refinery was gas output to record highs, testing the tion increases from the Permian will be signed during Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz’s visit to Beijing limits of available takeaway capacity for destined for the export market, which av- in 2017. Then in October last year, the Saudis said they would also the fuel. eraged 2.3 million bpd in November 2018, acquire a share of a 400,000-barrel-a-day plant on Zhoushan island The startup of Plains All American data from the U.S. Energy Information in Zhejiang province, and committed to supplying the Rongsheng Pipeline’s 350,000 b/d Sunrise expansion Administration shows. Group-run refinery with a portion of its crude requirements. at the end of 2018 marked the start of a Fears that export facilities will not be (Source: Bloomberg) period that should bring higher prices and able to keep up are reflected in the wider more takeaway capacity for Permian crude. price spread between ICE WTI MEH bar- As oil production bottlenecks are elim- rels and its global benchmark Brent to Rig count falls as U.S. oil inated, though, associated gas output is $3.55/b a year from now, from the current growing. According to S&P Global Platts front-month $2.33/b spread. production hits all-time high Analytics, production averaging nearly In the gas market, volatile prices and 8.9 Bcf/d over the past month is now just constraints could be on the horizon during The number of active oil and gas rigs fell in the United States this below the capacity of available pipelines the approaching shoulder season. week according to Baker Hughes, despite record-breaking production and local demand to absorb it. For April and May, forward prices for the week ending February 15. As Permian producers respond to market at Waha are now trading in the upper The total number of active oil and gas drilling rigs fell by 4 rigs­, signals that should drive increased crude 90 cents/MMBtu range, which is down according to the report, with the number of active oil rigs falling production in 2019, prices for oil and gas from prices in the low $1.20s/MMBtu, by 4 to reach 853 and the number of gas rigs holding fast at 194. are likely to continue diverging, at least by Platts Analytics show takeaway-pipeline basin is about 8.7 Bcf/d, with local demand about six months ago, S&P Global Platts The oil and gas rig count is now 69 up from this time last year, through the summer months. capacity exceeding Permian production capable of absorbing another 700 MMcf/d. data shows. 54 of which is in oil rigs. Crude by 1 million b/d by 2020, which has some Until Kinder Morgan’s 2 Bcf/d Gulf Coast Beyond October, though, forward Oil prices were trading up earlier on Friday on lowered OPEC Already this year, crude producers are project stakeholders fearing overbuild and Express expansion comes online in Octo- markets are pricing Permian gas higher production and hopes that the relentless trade spat between China seeing stronger prices and more capacity considering merging projects. At risk is the ber, price volatility is likely to increase as with the peak-winter demand month of and the United States might drawing to a close. The strong bearish on the horizon. Permian Gulf Coast pipeline, announced available capacity for production growth January now priced at $2.40/MMBtu. signal came from the United States on Thursday, with the Energy With the startup of projects like Plains’ by Energy Transfer Partners, Magellan, remains limited. Next year, Permian producers can look Information Administration showing that production reached 12 Sunrise expansion, the discount held by MPLX and Delek, which could be joined In the meantime, one potential outlet forward to more capacity growth for gas, million barrels per day for the week ending February 15—months WTI locked in at the Midland Permian hub with the 1 million b/d ExxonMobil, Plains, for Permian gas production could come which should come from Kinder’s second ahead of what the EIA originally had thought, and 100,000 barrels compared with barrels at the Magellan East and Lotus Midstream project. from the Wahalajara pipeline system in expansion project, the Permian Highway per day over production from the previous week. Houston hub has narrowed to $7.82/b in Gas Mexico. While the project has been subject Pipeline, which will add another 2.1 Bcf/d Despite the onslaught of US oil production, prices held, and the first quarter from $12.71/b in the fourth The contrasting outlook for gas could to previous delays, it is expected to bring in takeaway capacity for the basin. at 12:21pm, WTI was trading up 0.81% (+$0.46) at $57.42, while quarter, S&P Global Platts data shows. not be more stark. Earlier this month, gas online up to 400 MMcf/d in incremental On the crude side, producers will keep Brent was trading up 0.30% (+$0.20) at $67.39—an increase for Crude oil takeaway pipeline capacity prices at Waha settled at a record-low 7 demand by May, allowing more supply to a watchful eye on a construction project both benchmarks week on week as well. from the Permian to the U.S. Gulf Coast cents/MMBtu, as Permian gas production move from the Permian Basin to existing to replace Corpus Christi bridge with a Canada’s oil and gas rigs saw an even bigger decrease in the is growing too. surged to its highest ever 9.2 Bcf/d, S&P capacity at the Texas border. taller one, which should allow larger crude number rigs this week. Canada’s total oil and gas rig count fell by 12 According to Platts Analytics, about Global Platts data shows. Outlook tankers in and out of the port there. Ac- rigs and is now 212, which is 94 fewer rigs than this time last year. 3 million b/d is expected online in the According to Platts Analytics, Permian As Permian producers target new mar- cording to recent construction reports, By 1:06pm EDT, WTI was trading up 0.65% (+$0.37) at $57.33 next 18 months, bringing total takeaway gas production becomes fully constrained kets for future crude production growth, that project is now behind schedule, and is on the day. Brent crude was trading up 0.12% (+$0.08) at $67.27 per capacity to about 6 million b/d by 2020. around 9.4 Bcf/d, considering that effective they’ll need to keep a close eye on near- unlikely to meet the April 2020 deadline. barrel, with both benchmarks trading up significantly week on week. Based on announced projects, forecasts takeaway capacity on pipelines exiting the term prices, production and capacity in (Source: Platts) (Source: oilprice.com) ساعت: 17:00 امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL FEBRUARY 24, 2019 NEWS IN BRIEF India invited India threatens to stop flow of water to to OIC’s session in Abu Pakistan; Islamabad ‘not concerned’ Dhabi INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — The height- or divert waters of western rivers (Chenab, INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — In a significant development, deskened tensions between two Indus, Jhelum) on which our right to use deskIndia has been invited as the ‘guest of honor’ warring neighbors India and Pakistan in the prevails,” the official added. in a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation wake of recent terrorist attack in Indian- According to Pakistan’s commissioner for (OIC) in Abu Dhabi early next month. controlled Kashmir have drifted towards Indus Waters Syed Mehr Ali Shah, whether Indian government has called the invitation a “welcome waters now. India diverts or uses its unutilised share recognition” of the presence of 185 million Muslims in India. India has threatened to stop the flow of of eastern rivers’ waters, Pakistan has no India has the largest Muslim population in the world after water to Pakistan and divert it to northern problem. Indonesia. states of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. “They want to do it now, we have no prob- Quoting official sources, state-run news agency PTI said Minister for water resources Nitin Gadkari lem. And if they don’t want to use this, we foreign minister Sushma Swaraj will attend the 46th session created a stir on Thursday by saying that New have no issue,” Shah was quoted as saying. of the OIC’s council of foreign ministers to be held in Abu Delhi was planning to build projects on three This is not the first time India has threat- Dhabi from March 1 to 2. rivers flowing into Pakistan, to divert water ened to cut off water supply to Pakistan as “We see this invitation as the desire of the enlightened towards Yamuna. ‘punitive action’ against terrorist attacks leadership of the UAE to go beyond our rapidly growing “Our government has decided to stop our allegedly backed by Pakistan. close bilateral ties and forge a true multifaceted partnership share of water which used to flow to Pakistan. In 2016, when an army camp was attacked at the multilateral and international level” India’s foreign We will divert water from eastern rivers and in north Kashmir’s Uri by suspected Jaish- ministry said in a statement. supply it to our people in Jammu and Kash- e-Mohammad militants, Prime Minister Last year, Bangladesh had proposed restructuring of the mir, and Punjab,” he tweeted. Modi had declared that “blood and water charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to pave The statement provoked debate as many cannot flow together” and the government way for the inclusion of non-Muslim countries like India as observers in New Delhi said the move was had threatened to walk out of the treaty. an ‘observer state’ of the 50-year old organization. not feasible. Last week, a deadly attack rocked Indi- Under the Indus Waters Treaty, signed in “Three of our rivers have been flowing A senior official from Pakistan’s ministry an-controlled Kashmir, leaving 27 security FATF retains 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, India into Pakistan. So water which we rightfully of water resources was quoted saying by Dawn personnel dead. The responsibility for it was shares water of Beas and Sutlej rivers with owned was going into Pakistan. Now we are that they have “neither concern nor objection” also claimed by Jaish e Mohammad. Pakistan Pakistan. It gave India “unrestricted use” planning to create a project and divert the if India diverts water of eastern rivers and Since the attack, tensions have been run- on its of the eastern rivers – Sutlej, Ravi and Beas waters of these three rivers to the Yamuna. supplies it to its people or uses it for other ning high as India has vowed a ‘befitting reply’ while giving Pakistan unrestricted use of the So you can understand that there will be purposes, “as the IWT allows it to do so”. to Pakistan, even threatening to ‘diplomati- ‘grey list’ western rivers – Chenab, Jhelum and Indus. enough water in the Yamuna,” Gadkari said. “Actually India wants to construct Shah- cally isolate’ Pakistan in the international The treaty came after India in 1948 had A day after his statement, India’s water purkandi dam at the Ravi basin. This project community. INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — In another setback for the cut off water supply from Sutlej, which flowed resources ministry issued details of various is abandoned since 1995. Now they (India) In an article in Scroll, Ipsita chakravarty deskgovernment in Islamabad, Financial Ac- across the border into Pakistan, threatening projects being worked upon to enforce it. want to construct this in a bid to use its own said the decision to cut water flow to Pakistan tion Task Force (FATF) has retained Pakistan on its ‘grey agriculture in that country. However, a senior official in the ministry, share of water that goes unutilised and finally wasn’t the right way to retaliate. list’, citing ‘limited progress’. Earlier at an event in northern Indian state said it was not a “new decision” and that the flows to Pakistan. So if they want to use this “While India tries to hold the Pakistan The Paris-based terror financial watchdog said the country of Uttar Pradesh, Gadkari had said that the minister was “simply reiterating” what he whether through storing it, through construc- government accountable for its alleged in- has made only “limited progress” in curbing terror financ- water from three rivers entering Pakistan (Gadkari) had always said. tion of this dam or any other way for their volvement in cross-border attacks, it should ing and failed to comprehend risks posed by groups such as would be diverted towards Yamuna River. Meanwhile, Pakistan said it was not con- people, they can do as we have nothing to not punish the millions of Pakistani citizens Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). He said the government was working on a cerned over the plan to stop the flow of its do with it,” the official said. trying to make do with less and less water The FATF urged Pakistan to address its deficiencies project to connect three rivers to further ex- share of water to Pakistan from Ravi, Sutlej “But we will definitely express our con- every year, just like their counterparts this adequately, including the “demonstration of the effective plore possibilities of transportation in them. and Beas rivers under the Indus Water Treaty. cerns and raise objections strongly if they use side of the border,” she wrote. implementation of targeted financial sanctions” against UN-designated terrorists. The decision comes in the wake of the deadliest terror attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir less than a fortnight ago, carried out by JeM, which killed at least 44 security personnel. Following the attack, Indian government had Pakistan a pawn in Saudi’s sinister game vowed to isolate Pakistan diplomatically and urged FATF 1 Khan, who had campaigned vigorously against his stan, it has allowed groups like Jaish e Adl to flourish in region to ‘blacklist’ the country. predecessor’s flawed economic policies, found himself in the bordering Iran on the instructions from Riyadh. FATF’s statement came a day after the UN Security Council, same situation. He faced many uphill tasks, most notably reviv- Yet, it has always rejected involvement in attacks inside in a statement, condemned the 14 February suicide attack. ing the embattled economy through immediate and long term India mostly carried out by Jaish e Mohammad and Lashkar e The statement named the Pakistan-based JeM. reforms and dealing with the scourge of extremist organizations Toiba, it has rejected complicity in attacks inside Afghanistan Tensions between the two countries have been running and terrorist groups operating in the country. perpetrated by Afghan Taliban and it refuses to accept culpabil- high, with Indian government vowing ‘a befitting reply’ and Farahnaz Ispahani, a former Pakistani MP and Global Fellow ity in attacks inside Iran carried out by Jaish e Adl. It is widely the Pakistani army saying it will respond to any Indian re- at the Woodrow Wilson Center, in an interview with Tehran acknowledged that all these groups have bases in Pakistan. prisal with ‘full force’. Times that time said the new government needed to “break A Pakistan-based analyst speaking to Tehran Times said out of its cycles of boom and bust but for that serious reform, these groups certainly operate under the jurisdiction of ISI but Separatists not gimmicks and temporary solutions, are needed”. the civilian leadership should know that accepting billions of However, instead of focusing on real reforms, Khan followed dollars from Saudi rulers is akin to inviting trouble. arrested in the same beaten track. His government secretly approached the “When Imran Khan government gave MBS red carpet wel- Kashmir in International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout, and sought come and proudly accepted his investment deals, including in financial help from China and Saudi Arabia. Baluchistan province, they should have known the motive of overnight raids While China has a massive economic project going on in Riyadh, which is basically to use Pakistani territory to destabilize Pakistan, as part of the Belt and Road initiative, Saudis doling involvement in the attack. neighboring Iran,” he said, wishing anonymity. INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Situation continues to be The attack coincided with another attack in Indian-controlled desk out money to Pakistan was interesting. They saw an opportunity The popular opinion in Pakistan is overwhelmingly against tense in Indian-controlled Kashmir with beckoning them and they grabbed it with both hands. Kashmir, a disputed territory claimed by both India and Pa- Pakistan’s tilt towards Saudi Arabia, as it is being seen as counter- more than 100 separatist leaders and activists detained in Without knowing, the new Pakistan government had traded kistan. While his country was facing the heat from two of its productive to Pakistan’s own strategic interests. overnight raids, sources said on Saturday. its sovereignty for Saudi petro dollars. important neighbors, Pakistan’s prime minister was busy rolling “By strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia and accepting The raids are seen as part of the crackdown by Indian During his first overseas trip to Riyadh after assuming the red carpet for the patron of these terrorist groups – Saudi billions of petrodollars, we are not only embracing Saudi royals authorities to prevent anti-India gatherings and protests in power, Khan underscored that Riyadh will remain a priority Arabia’s crown prince. but also those dreaded terrorist groups who carry out attacks the run up to general elections in India two months later. for Pakistan’s foreign policy. Thus, he kept alive the tradition During his visit to Pakistan, Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) inside Pakistan and in its neighborhood,” said Ishtiyaq Hussain, “The arrival of more troops and the arrests of leaders and of his predecessors. announced $20 billion investment deals, including $10 billion a student at Quad e Azam University, Islamabad. activists of separatist groups is part of an election exercise Khan said Riyadh had “always stood with Pakistan in diffi- refinery and oil complex in Gwadar, a port city in Pakistan’s “It is time for the government to accept that these terror- undertaken to ensure free and fair elections,” one senior cult times and the Pakistani government and its people highly southwestern Baluchistan province close to Iran border. ist groups have sanctuaries inside our country and they are police official was quoted as saying by Reuters. acknowledge it.” As an acknowledgement of his loyalty, Saudi The project, according to observers, will give Saudi firm patronized by our military-intelligence leadership,” he said. It is the first major crackdown on the separatist leadership regime announced $6 billion in financial support to Islamabad. foothold in the restive Baluchistan province of Pakistan, which Mubashir Hussain, an Islamabad-based researcher, com- in the disputed region, which comes a week after a terror Those who were expecting a nuanced and balanced approach will aid in its efforts to destabilize neighboring Iran. menting on the latest statement of IRGC Quds brigade chief attack in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, which killed 44 to Islamabad’s relations with Tehran and Riyadh under Imran Taha Siddiqui, a senior Pakistani journalist, in an Al Ja- Gen. Qasem Soleimani said it should serve as a ‘wake-up call’ Indian security personnel. Khan were left disillusioned. zeera column wrote that the Saudis were “using aid packages for the Imran Khan government. An appeal has been filed in Supreme Court to repeal the Saudi’s financial support to Pakistan has less to do with and investment promises to buy the economically embattled “I think most Pakistanis would endorse Gen. Soleimani’s legislation, which has stirred tensions in the Himalayan its ‘friendship’ with Islamabad and more to do with its own Pakistani government’s loyalty and convince it to turn a blind statement that Pakistan should not be subservient to Saudi region, with politicians cutting across the political spectrum sinister agendas. It has to be seen in the context of its global eye to their destructive actions within Pakistan’s borders.” interests because of petro dollars, it should take care of its protesting against it. outsourcing of Wahhabi ideology and sponsorship of extremist The writing was on the wall: In lieu of petrodollars, Pakistan borders and ensure Saudi money does not breed terrorism Terming the arrests ‘arbitrary’, region’s former chief groups in various countries affiliated to that ideology. It has to not only put its sovereignty at stake but risked losing friendship inside Pakistan,” he told Tehran Times. minister Mehbooba Mufti said it will only precipitate the be seen in the context of its rivalry with Iran and its continuous of neighbors like Iran. Gen. Soleimani issued a terse statement on Thursday, cau- situation in Jammu and Kashmir. efforts to destabilize Iran. Pakistani officials have long argued that Islamabad has tioning Pakistan of Saudi’s true intentions behind billion dollars “Under what legal grounds are their arrests justified? Pakistan is one of the countries where radical groups affili- limited control over these terrorist groups and they mainly investment, saying the Kingdom is hell-bent on destroying You can imprison a person but not his ideas,” she tweeted. ated to the Saudi-sponsored Wahhabi ideology are found in operate under the command of the country’s powerful and Pakistan’s relations with its neighbors. large numbers. Under this diabolical project, many madrasas notorious intelligence agency ISI, which again shows the fault “Can’t you, as a nuclear-armed state, deal with a hundreds- China to (schools) are being run, where youth are indoctrinated to join line between the civilian and military leadership in Pakistan. strong terrorist group in the region,” General Soleimani asked armed insurgent groups like Jaish e Adl, a little-known terror- However, there is agreement that the civilian leadership the Pakistani government. form ‘contact ist group operating out of Pakistan’s Baluchistan province, in Pakistan has knowledge about terrorist sanctuaries in the “Iran is a safe neighbor for Pakistan and we will not threaten group’ on bordering Iran. country but it continues to live in denial. this country, but we will exact revenge against the Takfiri mer- This particular terrorist group has been involved in Some even say that since Khan was helped by the military cenaries, who have the blood of our youths on their hands no Afghanistan many terrorist attacks inside Iran. The latest and one of the leadership in elections, it would be nearly impossible for him matter where in the world they are,” he warned. deadliest attacks came earlier this month in Iran’s Sistan- to take a position against these militant groups. Before General Soleimani, military aide to the Iranian Leader INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — As hectic efforts are under- Pakistan’s military has traditionally favored stronger ties with desk Baluchistan province, which killed at least 27 members of Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi also lashed out at ISI’s way to facilitate peace in war-ravaged Af- Iran’s revolutionary corps (IRGC). The attack was carried Arab countries, paying less attention closer home. Although in sponsorship of terrorists, telling Islamabad that Saudi Arabia ghanistan, China has stepped up efforts to play the role of out by a Pakistani national. last few years, it had cozied up to Iran but Saudi’s petrodollars was not a reliable partner. a peacemaker. Following the deadly attack, Iranian generals without turned the tide again in favor of Riyadh. He further said that evidence points to the backing of these China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that the mincing words urged the Pakistani leadership to crack down While Pakistan’s military, according to observers, has used terrorist groups by a number of Persian Gulf Arab states, in- Cooperation Organization (SCO) will form a contact group on the terror group. Pakistan offered cooperation but denied these militant groups for proxy wars against India and Afghani- cluding Saudi Arabia. to help facilitate political settlement in Afghanistan and put an end to the protracted war. His remarks came in a meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart Chingiz Aidarbekov in Beijing on Thursday, according to reports. China, like other countries in the region, has hosted Analysis of MBS’s trip to three Asian countries talks between the Taliban and various other stakeholders in 1 Thus, MBS’s trip to Pakistan, image and political isolation after the in both markets. recent past. Seen as a counterweight to United States in the India and China is to: murder of Khashoggi, particularly in Saudi Arabia is in a secret compe- region, China is an important player in the peace process -Improve Riyadh’s trade with India countries reluctant to accept him such tition with Qatar especially after they as it enjoys good relations with both the Taliban and the to influence India’s import of Iran oil as Malaysia and Indonesia. In other broke ties with , and now, they try Afghan government. and Pakistan’s gas deal with Iran. Saudi words, he plans to overcome a bottle- to snatch the Asian markets. Meanwhile, despite Beijing’s growing interest in regions Arabia intends to jack up its oil export neck with Saudi petrodollars, while it The effective role of economy in in- neighboring Afghanistan, China is unlikely to be interested to India, Pakistan and China to replace is still unclear whether his promises ternational relations. The praise and in replacing the U.S. military’s role in maintaining stability Iran’s oil which has been limited by the will be realized or not. warm welcome MBS received from in the war-torn country, Sputnik quoted an Afghan expert U.S. sanctions. MBS plans to exacerbate He tries to convey to the West and Pakistani and Indian prime ministers saying. Instead of boosting its military presence in Afghani- economic pressure on Iran by giving the U.S. that the Saudis also have an prove the important role of economy in stan, China has opted to play a more active role in peace privileges and oil guarantees to these eye for the eastern market and not just the relationships between Saudi Arabia negotiations in the country, said Mariam Safi, director of countries on behalf of Washington. the western markets. In other words, with these two states and how economy DROPS based in Kabul. -MBS tries to restore his battered Riyadh’s after balancing out interest overshadows politics. ساعت: امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 24, 2019 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 Kushner is behind sending sensitive Assad, Putin’s green light for U.S. nuclear tech to Saudi: Askari 1 Following is the text of the interview: The report alleges those involved in Top Trump administration officials the planning were aiming to enrich themselves advocated a plan to build dozens of nuclear and possibly in violation of the Atomic Energy power plants in Saudi Arabia despite warnings Act, a federal law that lays out the precondi- that the move could pose ethical concerns tions of any nuclear deals with another nation and violate federal law, according to a report and requires prior Congressional approval. released by House Democrats. Which group What will be the result of the confrontation in U.S. has been trying to sell this sensitive of the congress and President Trump admin- technology to Saudi Arabia? istration in this case? A: I think that the origin of this initiative A: Congress will win this fight. There was General Flynn, the disgraced first National is no doubt in my mind. I think that even Security Advisor to Donald Trump. But now the Republicans would go against Trump. I think that MBS has followed up on this with The brutal murder of Khashoggi is still on Jared Kushner. So today, I believe the main everybody’s mind. MBS has lost a great deal advocate for this are Kushner, U.S. nuclear of support in the U.S. Congress. He is seen power plant builders, such as Westinghouse as a pariah. 1 It is time to see that the Syrian government, with the and General Electric, and possibly Donald In May 2018, Trump unilaterally support of its allies, has decided to take important and decisive Trump’s sons. This is all about money. It is withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear steps to strengthen the and equipment in that simple. agreement. Trump logic for the withdraw- the northern suburbs of Hama and south of Idlib, despite the Democrats raise concerns that the al was Nuclear Non-Proliferation. But the U.S. and international obstinacy. Trump administration support for this effort transferring “sensitive U.S. nuclear technol- The question is whether Syria and its allies have taken the would allow the Saudi regime access to “sen- ogy” could in turn “allow Saudi Arabia to final decision to confront the terrorists in Idlib, especially the sitive U.S. nuclear technology” that could in produce nuclear weapons that contribute to legitimate and sovereign right of Syria, and Turkey has, like always, turn “allow Saudi Arabia to produce nuclear the proliferation of nuclear arms throughout refused to fulfill its obligations? Can Lavrov speech at Munich weapons that contribute to the proliferation was again there. Most important, Pakistan is A: I think those around Trump would love an already unstable Middle East.” How can Security Conference be considered a message to Turkey and of nuclear arms throughout an already un- facing serious economic problems. The Prime to do it because of the money that they would explain this contradiction? the U.S.? What is the Syrian army’s strategy to prevent civilian stable Middle East.” What is your opinion? Minister, Imran Khan, would do anything reap. But I believe the U.S. Congress will block A: President Trump, Kushner and the casualties? Can the battle of Idlib end easily and quickly? What A: Yes, this would allow Saudi Arabia for $10 billion! Also note the recent trip of it. Moreover, I think that Netanyahu will come older Trump sons are not known for their will be the reaction of regional and international countries, and to produce nuclear weapons. But there is MBS to Pakistan. Finally, remember that to his senses and re-examine his love affair consistency. They seem to do anything for what will Turkey do? more. This is not Saudi Arabia’s best op- Saudi Arabia has Chinese missiles, which with MBS. If MBS has nuclear warheads, money and political advantage. So please What America misses with the domination of tion. I believe that Saudi Arabia could buy they initially bought without U.S. knowledge, Israel will be threatened as never before. don’t look for consistency. It is not there. Damascus two or so nuclear warheads from Pakistan. missiles whose main purpose is to carry nu- So I think that Israel would also realize the But the reality is that Iran is very unpopu- The United States is worried that the Syrian army will remove There is a history between Saudi Arabia and clear warheads. So which is the easiest and shortsightedness of Netanyahu’s romance lar in the U.S. and with U.S. lawmakers. So all the military and field milestones that the United States and Pakistan. After the Mecca takeover, Saudi fastest route to become a nuclear power? with MBS and make sure that Trump and any action that is against Iran is generally regional allies can use to exert pressure on Damascus. Especially Arabia a dialed for Pakistani soldiers to evict Do you think Trump administration the U.S. congress does not allow this transfer welcomed. But I am almost sure that the since the battle of Idlib will be the last stage in the process of the radicals who had taken over the Grand will allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium of technology to an irrational young man. U.S. will not allow this transfer. Trump will liberating the entire geography of Syria from terrorists. Mosque. More recently in Bahrain, Pakistan and reprocess plutonium by itself? But again note, Pakistan is a different story! not win on this. With the liberation of Idlib, the Syrian government returns to the pre-crisis situation, and those who launched the multi-year war against Syria will return empty handed and Damascus will be victorious, while the U.S. and allies will be the losers. Russia is aware of the situation, and analysts say they will directly support the Syrian army in the face of a possible U.S. Shia: Doctrines and Practises reaction. Washington is afraid that Damascus will move swiftly to try to recapture all areas under occupation in Syria, including By Yusuf Abdullah areas controlled by U.S. military units. What will happen to the terrorists in Umm al- ABUJA — In the name of Allah who states “O you who Ma’arik Battle? believe! Stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses To fair Terrorists who do not surrender will be dealt with. According dealing, and let not The hatred of others To you make you to media reports, all eyes are on the main roads such as Hamah- swerve To wrong and depart from Justice. Be just: that is Idlib, Aleppo- Latakia. All measures are being taken for a tough Next to piety: and fear Allah, for Allah is well - acquainted battle in a region where thousands of Arab, Turkmen, Chinese with all ye do” Q5:8 and Uzbek terrorists are present. May the everlasting peace and blessings of Allah be upon No one can predict how difficult the battle to recapture Idlib His noble servant, our master Muhammad and his pure might be. Some observers predict a tough fight, while others claim progeny? the Syrian army is more than ready to prevail after victories in This piece was a short response to the need of our es- the south of Syria. teemed readers. No doubt, the need for Shia to enlighten Idlib is the home for rebels and terrorists gathered from all the world on its origin and relevance to debunk the widely regions. The battle of the city is associated with a lot of complexi- circulated propaganda against the creed is very crucial. There ties compared to the previous fronts and is difficult to predict the are so much lies, so much tales and so much calumniations course of its field developments. The coming days will reveal the propagated against it! Blind critics were sponsored to write fate of Syria and the determination of the Damascus government baseless versions that are freely distributed across the world. to dominate the entire country. With the level of our society’s laziness in research at one hand and the calumnious efforts of the enemies and their paid agents on the other, all hands must be concertedly on deck to deliver facts as a trust from Allah without mischief. In view of this, I urge all adherents to do their best in this ‘Transferring nuclear tech to direction, and appeal to those who sincerely wish to know the truth to reflect on the general command of Allah, “... Saudi is most destabilizing Ask those who know” Q21:7. On such enquiry however, one should never rely on the biased persons who always mislead. development’ Allah states “O you who believe! Stand out firmly For Allah, as witnesses To fair dealing, and let not The hatred of others To you make you swerve To wrong and depart from Justice. Be just: that is Next to piety: and fear Allah, for Allah is well Ibrahim as a follower of prophet Noah (AS). Sheikh al-Mufeed, a remarkable Shi’a scholar who died - acquainted with all ye do” Q5:8 Shia in Prophetic Traditions in 413 AH defined Shia as the followers of Ali and believers To do justice as Allah enjoined in the verse above. Why In a prophetic tradition narrated by Ibn Athir who died in his immediate successorship to the noble prophet, with shouldn’t the opponents defeat the Shiites by reasons? Dis- in 606 AH, the prophet (S) addressed Ali as “O Ali! You and further elaboration on Imamiyyah they are also known. This cuss with them on the religion in its entirety? If proof is the your Shia will reach Allah being pleased with him and well is a title for those who believe in the necessity of Imamate weapon of a believer, why are those opposed to the creed pleasing Him, and your enemies will reach Him, being angry and continuity in all ages and that every Imam must be afraid of reading their books or discussing with them on any and will be seized by their necks. Then the prophet demon- explicitly designated and must also be infallible and perfect. topic of interest? Why does the creed super geometrically strated how this would be by putting his hand on his neck” In the light of the above definition, the Shia believe that spread all over the world? Is it due to ignorance or brain In another tradition by the same narrator, the prophet successorship to the noble prophet was absolutely divine wash? It is good that one establishes the fact before his or said “Surely there is a spring in paradise sweeter than nectar, appointment. As the prophet was appointed, so also the her children accept the faith ahead. The earlier one carries smoother than butter, cooler than ice and more fragrant Imam on prophet’s promulgation, starting with Imam Ali to an unbiased study the better. Enough was enough on the than musk. In that spring is the clay (tinah) from which we Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdy (AS). Some of the well-known propagated lies in the 21st century. The accusing fingers (my household and I) were created and our Shia are made Shia -followers of Imam Ali- among the companions were are mostly on Iran and Iraq as one could hardly lay hand from the same clay” Volume 1 page 129, no. 180. In some Abdullah bn Abbas, Naufal bn Harith, Salman al-Farisy, 1 Notwithstanding close Israeli-Saudi ties, Israel will not on any book discussing a topic from a judicious point of traditions, the prophet (S) used the term “ Shia of your Miqdad bn al-Aswad, AbuDharr, Ammar bn Yassir, Huzaifa welcome the development of nuclear weapons capability in Sau- view. But with the atmospheric change, only Allah knows descendents” -believing in the divinely appointed institu- bn al-Yamani, Khuzaimah bn Thabit, Abu Ayyub al-Ansary, di Arabia. Such a development will challenge the burgeoning what will happen in the next few decades. With religious tion. In the narration of Ibn Abbas by Ibn Hajar who died Saad bn Ubadah, Ubayyu bn Kaab, Bilal al-Habashi, Hujr relations between these two regional hegemons. freedom, development in information technology, intel- in 974, the prophet said to Imam Ali after the revelation of bn Addy, Jabir bn Abdullah al-Ansary, Muhammad bn Abi Comparing the U.S. reaction to the Saudi missile and lectual discussions and discourses, there is no limit for the “Surely those who believe and do good deeds are the best Bakr and Sahl bn Hunaif among others. nuclear programs with its reaction to Iran’s ones, isn’t the U.S. doctrine owing to the prophetic teachings on the principle of creation” Q98:7. Those are you and your Shia. On the Unlike Ahl al-Sunnah wa al Jama’a which sprang in the policy enjoying double standard? of justice and unity. One with Allah is majority! No doubt, day of resurrection, you will be pleased and well pleasing year of Jama’ah during the Umayyad Mu’awiya-led regime, A: Of course, it is. But this is not the point. Washington’s the terrorist measures of the enemies will never succeed and (to Allah) and your enemies will come angry and will be the Shia, otherwise original Islam was first heard from the regional foreign policy has always been characterized by double the victims weather in Yemen, Bahrain or Nigeria among seized by their necks. Then the prophet demonstrated how Great Messenger (S). Although more attention is focused on standards. There are many reasons countries pursue certain others will finally emerge victors. this would be by putting his hand on his neck. (Ibn Hajar, the political aspect in most discussions on the Shia /Sunna, foreign policy goals. Fairness, even-handedness, and morality Literal and Technical Perspectives section 11, chapter 1, verse 11. In a prominent narration by theological and jurisprudential aspects are very important. are not among them. According to al-Munjid, the famous Arabic dictionary, Ibn Asakir who died in 571 AH, from Jabir Bn Abdullah Interestingly, books are generally available in soft and hard What is Trump after in the region by such destabilizing acts? 35th edition, published by Dar al - ulum in Beirut, Lebanon, who said: “Once we were with the prophet Muhammad, copies. The living religious authorities that issue religious A: Transferring sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia 1987, page 411, the word Shia etymologically is used for a when Ali arrived, upon which the prophet said, I swear by verdicts and their jurisprudential books and sites are also without a proper review by Congress may indeed be a violation person, two people or a group, male or female. However, it Him who has my life in His hand that surely this man and there. We also have scholars that could be referred to in of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act let alone its destabilizing regional is technically applied on the people that believe in the divine his Shia will be happy on the day of resurrection” then the search of truth and guidance. impact. But the Trump administration’s obsession with under- leadership of Ali and his family. Company, to accompany or verse “Surely those who believe and do good deeds are the Beside the five fundamentals (Usool el-deen); tau- mining Iran’s interests and national security has led to adopt followers. In page 2,144 of volume 2 of the Lisanul Arab, a best of creation”Q98:7 was revealed. From then, whenever heed-monotheism, adl- justice of Allah, nubuwwat- prophet- irrational foreign policy decisions that will have unsavory con- more advanced Arabic dictionary, the word Shia originally the companions saw Ali coming, they would say, the best of hood, imamate -institution of the Imams and ma’ad- the sequences in the long run. refers to a group of people which equally applies to one creation has come. -Ibn Asakir, Volume, 2, page 442 and day of judgment, we have the ten branches that comprises How do you see Trump’s son in law role in selling sensitive or two, male or female with the same pronunciation and al-Suyuty, Volume, 6, page 589 of prayer, fasting, poor rate, pilgrimage to Mecca, Khums, nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia. meaning. Technically, the word is applied on those that In al-Milal wa al-Nihal, a famous source on different enjoing what is rights and prevention of bad, allegiance to A: The report by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform recognise the specific divine leadership of Ali and his family sects in Islam by Shahrestani who died in 548 AH men- the Ahlul-bait and dissociation from their enemies and jihad does indeed allude to the role of Jared Kushner in this episode. (may Allah be pleased with them). Whenever one is said to tioned “the Shia are those who followed Ali in particular which is multifaceted on general context. Conclusively, It also indicates that strong private commercial interests have be Shia, he or she is regarded as their adherent. Zuhry, a and believed in his Imamate and caliphate according to shiism is simply a belief on fundamentals and branches as been pushing for the sale of sensitive U.S. nuclear technology renowned scholar said, the Shia are known for their love the explicit teachings and will of the prophet Muhammad” elaborated above. It has nothing to do with belonging to to Saudi Arabia for their own private gains. IronBridge Group to prophetic progeny and recognition of their leadership. On the other hand, Al-Hasan Ibn Musa al-Nawbakhti, a one registered NGO or the other. Whoever believes in the In., a subsidiary of IP3, has been one of these private entities, Abu Ishaq said when the word is related to somebody, it renowned Shia scholar who died in 313 AH, mentioned in creeds and practices is a Shia. which through its “advisor” General Michael Flynn has been a refers to the person’s followers. The word Shia was used in his book, Firaq al-Shi’a, “the Shi’a are the party of Ali son While urging our esteemed readers on the need to refer key proponent of the nuclear technology sale to Saudi Arabia. In the same context in the noble Qur’an, chapter 28 verse 15 of Abi Talib. They were called Shia of Ali during and after to Shi’a scholars, books and sites for more information and other words, several influential private individuals and groups in reference to one of the followers of prophet Musa (AS), the life of the prophet and were known as the followers of guidance, the need for the unconditional release of Sheikh with strong ties to the Trump administration have been working just as it was used in chapter 37 verse 8 referring to prophet Ali and believers in his Imamate” Page 17. el-Zakzaky and all his disciples cannot be overemphasized. on this scheme for some time now. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS FEBRUARY 24, 2019

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II NN TT EE RR NN AA TT II OO NN AA LL DD AA II LL YY FEBRUARYFEBRUARY 24, 2019 HEALTHADVERTISEMENT 99

Men’s health ‘more at risk’ Iranian-made medication for Rheumatoid Arthritis unveiled

than women: official HEALTH TEHRAN — A new drug for Rheumatoid deskArthritis, called Rhofanib 5, completely HEALTH TEHRAN — Men’s suicide and respiratory diseases. designed and manufactured in Iran, was unveiled, IRIB deskhealth, in all age groups The factors leading to disease in men reported on Wednesday. is more at risk compared to women, said are mostly psychological disorders, skeletal Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term, progressive, and an official with Health Ministry in a press system disorders and sexually transmitted disabling autoimmune disease. It causes inflammation, conference. diseases (STD), added Barakati. swelling, and pain in and around the joints and other body The conference was held to mark Iran’s “Around 57% of men suffer from STDs but organs. national health week of men, running from they are usually late in visiting a specialist According to the head of Iran’s Rheumatology Research February 20 to 26, ISNA reported on Saturday. for it,” he further remarked. Center, the new drug was manufactured by NanoAlvand The theme of this year’s men’s health Doctor visits low among men Pharmaceuticals. week is “more active and healthier men.” According to Barakati, it is expect that “Currently, we are devising a strategic 32% of men visit health centers ever year, plan to address men’s health and we will but the statistics show much lower rates.” implement it over the next [Iranian] year “We also aim to pilot a plan, so that some [starting March 21],” said Hamed Barakati health centers will be open in afternoons who presides over the ministry’s department too, when men are more likely to visit such of population, family and school’s health. centers. Furthermore, in some cities, we “There are six priorities in this plan, have done medical screening for men in addressing three conditions that lead to their workplace,” he further noted. death and three other major conditions According to World Health Organization, that lead to disease in men,” said Barakati. In most parts of the world, health outcomes According to him, women, in general, among boys and men continue to be have a healthier lifestyle than men. This substantially worse than among girls and could be rooted in men’s attitude toward women, yet this gender-based disparity in their health as they usually think they don’t “Also, the number of women covered to death among men, aging 30 to 70 years, health has received little national, regional or need medical care or are immune to disease. by health insurance is around two to three are cardiovascular diseases, traffic accidents, global acknowledgement or attention from Ahmadreza Jamshidi explained that Rhofanib 5 is a version Reasons of disease and death in percent higher than men.” stroke, Diabetes, digestive system cancers, health policy-makers or health-care providers. of Tofacitinib, but the foreign version was very expensive, men In our country, he said, the factors leading lung cancer, violence, high blood pressure, The Global Burden of Disease study costing nearly 55 million rials (around $1,200) and wasn’t Overweightness, diabetes, cardiovascular led by the Institute for Health Metrics and covered by any insurance company because of its long treatment diseases, addiction, high blood lipids and Overweightness, diabetes, cardiovascular Evaluation in 2010 (GBD 2010 study) showed period, so practically, doctors couldn’t prescribe it. blood pressure, as well as traffic accidents that throughout the period from 1970 to For this reason, he added, the idea of producing a local are among the factors threating men’s life diseases, addiction, high blood lipids 2010, women had a longer life expectancy version was first put forward. the most, Barakati noted. and blood pressure, as well as traffic than men. Over that 40-year period, female According to American College of Rheumatology, Tofacitinib “Even though men have averagely higher accidents are among the factors threating life expectancy at birth increased from 61.2 (Xeljanz) is an oral, small molecule drug used to treat adults education than women, they have less health- to 73.3 years, whereas male life expectancy with moderately to severely active Rheumatoid Arthritis in related information,” said the official. men’s life the most. rose from 56.4 to 67.5 years. which methotrexate did not work well. “The target group of this drug is pretty small, as the patients who have not responded to therapy at stage 3 rheumatoid arthritis, need to use it,” said Jamshidi. He added that the drug may have more side effects compared Self-care application to start in 6 months to stage 1 and 2 medications, but it is surely more effective. HEALTH TEHRAN — A self-care digital appli- know their health status; plus, their doctors can access In this regard, the managing director of NanoAlvand deskcation has been designed and will go this information as well and use it in the course of treat- Pharmaceuticals said the company decided to go on with on stream in the first half of the next Iranian calendar ment, he said. producing Rhofanib 5, as manufacturing its foreign equivalent, year (starting March 21), said Deputy Health Minister In January, the deputy health minister for planning Tofacitinib, required some special prerequisites. Additionally, Alireza Raisi. announced that all Iranians can see their health profiles using Tofacitinib usually poses great risks. According to Raisi, people can install this application on their mobile phones by the end of the current year. According to Nima Sepehri, Rhofanib 5 is the same quality on their mobile phones and fill in their health parameters, According to Ali Akbar Haqdoust, creating digital health of the foreign equivalents; However, it is not yet covered by ISNA reported on Wednesday. profiles and other similar services are all part of a unified insurance as it is still very new, but it definitely need to be The self-care application can be connected to each plan toward setting up a comprehensive electronic health insured soon as using it is quite indispensable to Rheumatoid person’s health profile as well. By using it, people can record (EHR) for every patient. Arthritis patients.

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Iran sees growth in carpets Darak, where the desert export to Iraq

HERITAGE TEHRAN – Iran’s Commercial Attaché in Iraq, deskNaser Behzad, has said that the demand of the meets the sea Iraqi market for Persian carpets will considerably rise by 2020. to the styles worn in Afghanistan. “By 2020, Iraq is forecast to buy Iranian carpet at an estimated By Morteza Rahmani The female Balochi suit consists of the worth of $600 million,” IRNA quoted Behzad as saying on Friday. TEHRAN (MNA) – The coastal village of head scarf, long dress and a shalwar. Ba- ‘Darak’ can be found in the southernmost lochi women wear loose dresses which are tip of Iran, on Mokran’s shores, stretching embroidered in colorful designs that are along the Sea of Oman. It is one of the most particularly renowned for the finesse of stunningly pristine beaches in the country. their embroidery. The village is a potential touristic site, The inhabitants of Darak mainly do fish- which enjoys all three types of the cliff, sandy ing, but they also practice agriculture as a and coral beaches in the vicinity. secondary activity. The kindness of these Darak or ‘Darag’ in the local language people is proverbial. It is common that visitors means settling along the sea. It is where and travelers are invited to enjoy delicious the burning sands nestle in the arms of the local dishes, seasoned with traditional spices, free waters. where the ancestral culinary know-how of In the coastline, the waters of the Gulf the women of the village is tasted. According of Oman and the Indian Ocean collide. The to the latest censuses, Darak is populated “Iran [currently] has a share of less than five percent in meeting perceived coastlines of the sands and palm by less than 500 people, making up over a the Iraqi market demand,” the official added. trees create wonderful scenes. hundred households. Quoted by Iran Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), Behzad Location Therapeutic virtues of Darak stated that Iraq annually imports about $250 million worth of The village forms a part of Zarabad County coastal dunes carpets from Turkey, China and Egypt. in the borders of Konarak. It is 19km from One of the interesting aspects of the coast During the past fiscal year, over 5,397,000 tons of Iranian Johlou, the capital city of Zarabad. From the of Darak village is the existence of white sand carpets, worth $424.451 million, were exported to over 70 coun- development has been realized. It is a site for unique beauty. east, Darak is linked to the coastal village hills that, according to locals, have healing tries with the U.S. standing on top of the importers list, said the those who are looking for the authenticity Best season to travel of Jod, and from the west it borders Poshti properties for muscular and bone pains. In Iranian official. and charm of this unspoiled coastline. The province of Sistan and Baluchestan Village. Mountains embrace the village from order to cure these pains, they lie on the sand Germany, the UK, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Aus- The sand dunes and the extended coast is one of the hottest provinces of Iran. It the north and the sea from the south. early in the morning, when the sun shines tria, Russia, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden and Norway as well are a good combination for cycling enthu- rarely rains there, let alone in the years of Abandoning the usual tourist routes, one high in the sky. as Hungary, Romania, Poland and Ireland are major importers siasts. Roads in this region are also suitable drought. Nevertheless, the Darak village could take an unknown route to venture into Darak is a rather green place, and one of Iranian carpet. for motorized leisure activities, including enjoys a spring climate most of the year. Sistan and Baluchestan. Trotting along the wonders how the palms grew on this hot Persian carpets are sought after internationally for their deli- off-road. It is due to the refreshing winds that come mild path, we will reach its sandy shore that desert coast. This is another oddity of the cate designs and good quality. The country’s official figures show Along the Chabahar road in the village of from the Indian Ocean. offers a unique spectacle. village: this place nestled near the sea and the carpets have a significant share in Iran’s non-oil exports. Darak are temporary signs indicating access The best time to visit Darak is spring, This village is located between two im- to one of the most beautiful coasts of Iran. from early to mid-season. After that, the located in a hot and dry area has fresh water, portant southern port cities: Chabahar and This road is itself a tourist attraction by the heat of summer may reduce the pleasure just a few tens of meters from the sea. Fresh Bandar Abbas. landscapes that it presents to the eyes, but of this trip. Summer remains a season to water exists less than two meters deep. Iran to lift import tariffs on The sand hills, shores, corals, rocks, also by the sporty driving that it requires - it avoid due to high temperatures. This water is the origin of the forest and mountains and surrounding forests, and the is thus preferable to take this road with a The beginning of autumn is still warm in the variety of tropical species existing there. tourism-related equipment unspoiled and domesticated nature can all car adapted to all types of ground. the province, but the monsoon winds allow The inhabitants use fresh water to cultivate be seen in the same place. The most obvious recreation at the seaside Chabahar and the littoral zones to bene- and harvest watermelon, corn, palm trees, TOURISM TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief has said that Thanks to the efforts of the indigenous is swimming. The place is also very good for fit from a little more freshness. It is quite etc. Side by side with these fruits, you will deskthe country will exempt tourism-related equip- people and officials, this village has kept all kinds of water activities, from surfing to possible to go there in the fall, although it also see different species of acacia nilotica ment from import tariffs in a bid to buttress the tourism industry. its purity and beauty. Interestingly, it does diving. But again, no development has been is better to wait until the second half of the and fig trees pagodas. not appear on Iranian maps and you have done and it must become equipped. season. Winter is also a good season to visit Acacia nilotica (the red gum) is a species to look in English maps, or look for the term Picnics, photography and hiking the village of Darak. native to East Africa and the Indian subcon- “Darak Coast” in English or Darak Beach The village, in itself, is worth seeing. Do Inhabitants of Darak tinent of the family Fabaceae, which also to geolocate. not hesitate on the way to stop for a picnic The inhabitants of Darak belong to the grows in Tchabahar in southern Iran. This Tourist sites and entertainment under the shade of a palm tree. Hiking trails Balouch ethnicity and speak Baluchi. Men’s tree has therapeutic virtues. Darak has a pristine shoreline. It is known abound and compete with the coastal path. clothing consists of shalwar kameez. It con- The fig tree of the pagodas is a tree be- for its extraordinary beaches. However, for- The hikes are made in forests and palm groves sists of very baggy pants. The kameez is also longing to the genus Ficus religiosa of the tunately or unfortunately, its tourist poten- up to the sky, always with a view of the coast loose, which traditionally is long with long Moraceae family. It is a sacred tree according tial has never been exploited and no tourist of sand and coral. The sunsets are also of sleeves. The Balochi shalwar kameez is similar to Hinduism and Buddhism.

Sassanid-era tombs discovered Over 2m Iranian artisans

The Iranian cabinet, on a Wednesday meeting headed by in northeast Iran engaged in handicrafts President Hassan Rouhani, approved that import tariffs to be exempted from tourism-related equipment and machinery in order to promote the travel industry, Ali-Asghar Mounesan said, IRNA reported. The country hosted 6,074,580 foreign nationals during the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2018) while the figure stood at 3,893,277 in the same period last year, based on official statistics compiled by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization. Iran embraces hundreds of historical sites such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 22 being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

ROUND THE GLOBE HERITAGE TEHRAN – Two local official said, CHTN reported on HERITAGE TEHRAN – More than Iran’s handicrafts exports reached $190 Citadel of the Ho Dynasty desktomb cambers, which Saturday. desktwo million artisans million in the first nine months of the current are said to date from early Sassanid Under the Sasanians who ruled are currently working in various fields Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2018), The 14th-century Ho Dynasty citadel, built according to era, have recently been discovered in form 224 CE to 651, a revival of Iranian of handicrafts across Iran, deputy director showing 11 percent growth year on year. the feng shui principles, testifies to the flowering of neo- Khorasan Razavi province, northeast nationalism took place. of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Traditional ceramics, pottery vessels, Confucianism in late 14th century Vietnam and its spread Iran. Zoroastrianism became the state Tourism Organization has said. handwoven cloths as well as personal orna- to other parts of East Asia. Located near Sabzevar, the tombs religion and the government became Until now, some 400,000 craftspeople mentations with precious and semi-precious The Citadel of Ho Dynasty built in 1397, composed are estimated to date back some 1800 centralized with provincial officials have been registered with the CHHTO, gemstones are among Iranian exports to of the Inner Citadel, La Thanh Outer Wall and the Nam to 2000 years ago when people of the directly responsible to the throne, Pouya Mahmoudian said, CHTN reported Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany, the U.S., Giao Altar covers 155.5 ha, surrounded by a buffer zone region practiced Zoroastrianism, a and roads, city buildings. on Saturday. the UK and other countries. of 5078.5 ha. It is located in accordance with geomantic principles in a landscape of great scenic beauty between the Ma and Buoi rivers in Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province of Museums grapple with rise in pleas for return of foreign treasures Vietnam. The pressure on museums to grapple with the provenance of departments.” sloth named after Darwin. That request was also rejected under their collections has been revealed by freedom of information Among the most recent repatriation claims is a request from the terms of the British Museum Act. requests submitted by the Guardian. Gibraltar for two Neanderthal skulls which are on display at A Natural History Museum spokeswoman said: “We are A series of high-profile restitution claims have been received the Natural History Museum in . continuing dialogue with both authorities and have confirmed by institutions including the British Museum and the Natural The skulls, known as Gibraltar 1 and 2, have played a crucial our willingness to meet and discuss any other issues of interest History Museum in recent months. They include a call from the role in shaping understanding of Neanderthals. Gibraltar 1, an and continue ongoing collaboration in research and public government of Gibraltar for the return of Neanderthal remains, adult female skull, was found in Forbes’ Quarry in 1848 and engagement with these countries.” including the first adult skull to be discovered by scientists, is believed to be about 50,000 years old. It is described by the Prof Clive Finlayson, director of the Gibraltar National Muse- and a request from Chile for the repatriation of the remains museum as a “highlight specimen” in its human evolution gallery. um, confirmed the organization was in contact with the Natural of a now extinct giant ground sloth. Gibraltar 2 comprises five skull fragments of a Neanderthal History Museum and that possibilities were being discussed. The letters, almost all of which resulted in the requests child and was discovered at Devil’s Tower in 1926. In March 2017, the V&A received a request from the Welsh being rejected, show that long-running restitution claims for In a letter dated 10 September last year, the Gibraltar National Conservative MP Guto Bebb for the return of two “firedogs” high-profile exhibits such as the Parthenon marbles are the Museum wrote to the Natural History Museum director, Sir taken from Gwydir Castle in Conwy, north Wales. A museum tip of the iceberg as debate rages over the right of museums Michael Dixon, to “formally request the return of the Gibral- spokeswoman said: “The V&A was gifted these firedogs by a to keep hold of contested collection items. tar Neanderthal remains” on behalf of the British overseas benefactor in 1937. The V&A’s director wrote back to Guto Bebb The Inner Citadel constructed of large limestone blocks Last month the Egyptian government called on the National territory’s government. MP and offered to make the firedogs available as a loan or as represents a new development of architectural technology Museum of Scotland to produce certification documents for its “It has been our desire for some time, and we feel that the a reproduction. To date, this offer has not been taken up by a and adaptation of geomantic city planning in an East Egyptian antiquities after a row broke out over plans to display moment is now the right one, that these human remains should local museum or the present-day owners of Gwydir Castle.” Asian and South-east Asian context. a casing stone from the Great Pyramid of Giza. return,” the letter said. “You will agree, I am sure, that it is The art historian Alice Procter, whose Uncomfortable Art It demonstrates the use of architectural elements in In October last year, the British Museum faced calls to return entirely appropriate for these human remains return [sic] to Tours seek to inform visitors about the colonial history of mu- terms of space management and decoration designed for Hoa Hakananai’a, a basalt statue taken from Easter Island in their place of origin where they will be treated with the care seums, said British institutions would increasingly be forced a centralized imperial city in order to show a concept 1868 and given to the museum by Queen Victoria the following and respect which they deserve.” into “soul-searching” about the provenance of their items – and of royal power, based on the adoption of the Confucian year. In April, the ministry of cultural heritage in Italy requested Responding to the letter on 20 September, Dixon cited the whether they should be returned. philosophy within a predominantly Buddhist culture. the return of a marble relief depicting the freedmen Publius British Museum Act 1963, which allows for the disposal of col- “This is a really critical time for museums to work out where Being the capital of Vietnam from 1398 to 1407 and Licinius Philonicus and Publius Licinius Demetrius. lection items only in limited circumstances. “I must therefore they stand on these questions,” she said. “Stop hiding behind also the political, economic and cultural center of North A British Museum spokeswoman said discussions about the decline your request for donation to your museum,” he said. historical acts. They have little justification for continuing to Central Vietnam from the 16th to the 18th century, it bears future of both items were continuing. “We believe the strength Dixon wrote that the Neanderthal remains played “a central cite something like the British Museum Act.” exceptional testimony to a critical period in Vietnamese of the collection is its breadth and depth, which allows millions part in our innovative engagement with the public on human Procter referred to a recent report commissioned by the and South-east Asian history when traditional kingship of visitors an understanding of the cultures of the world and evolution” and were “also in active use for collaborative inter- French president, Emmanuel Macron, which caused a stir in and Buddhist values were giving way to new trends in how they interconnect – whether through trade, conflict, mi- national research on human origins and variation as part of a the museum world last November with a call for thousands technology, commerce and centralized administration. gration, conquest, or peaceful exchange,” she said. “Research large comparative collection”. of African artworks held by French museums to be returned (Source: UNESCO) into provenance and how objects entered the British Muse- In August, the museum received a separate request from to their countries of origin. um’s collection is an active area of work for all of our curatorial Chile to return remains of Mylodon darwinii, an extinct ground (Source: The Guardian) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 24, 2019 SCIENCE 11

Researchers explore an often ignored Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft lands on Ryugu asteroid source of greenhouse gas A Japanese spacecraft completed on Friday a touchdown on the surface of an asteroid, where it fired a projectile at the rock’s surface rock. A successful mission could help advance understanding of During photosynthesis, plants remove CO2 of air coming from dynamic soil respiration how our planet formed in the early Solar System. from the atmosphere. At the same time, the chambers placed in the orchard. This allowed Since last year, Hayabusa2, the Japanese probe, has been studying decomposition of dead plant tissue by soil for high-frequency monitoring of the soil the asteroid called Ryugu. It surveyed the object’s surface, and in organisms, including bacteria, fungi, earth- surface and air. The tests were repeated with the following months landed multiple robotic probes on its rocky worms, ants and others, produce CO2 and different water supplies, using irrigation water terrain. All that work was done to support the aim of Thursday’s release it back into the atmosphere. or de-ionized water, and the results were operation (Friday in Japan) where it attempted to collect samples In a new study from UBC’s Okanagan remarkably different. from Ryugu’s surface and later bring them home to Earth. Other campus, researchers have discovered a sur- Applied to the soil attempts could be made in the near future. prising new source of carbon dioxide (CO2) “It turns out that some of the CO2 released Hayabusa2 tried to collect material from the rugged surface of emissions — bicarbonates hidden in the lake after irrigation comes from the natural salts the asteroid with a device called a sampler horn. water used to irrigate local orchards. — bicarbonates — dissolved in water from To make small enough fragments, the spacecraft fired a projectile “We have been studying the carbon content Okanagan Lake as it is applied to the soil,” made of the metal tantalum — basically a bullet — at the asteroid’s of soil for some time,” says Melanie Jones, says Midwood. “It’s a process we had not surface. Earlier this month, the mission’s managers reported their professor of biology and study lead author. considered until we noticed some unusual simulation of this procedure on Earth to demonstrate that it would “This large natural carbon store is hugely results when we traced the source of the CO2.” be able to succeed. important in combatting rising atmospheric Midwood is quick to point out that under- The spacecraft is carrying multiple projectiles so it can make more CO2 levels and it’s essential to understand standing the processes that drive the release than one attempt at a touchdown. In March or April, Hayabusa2 is all the carbon transactions that take place of CO2 from the soil is essential in combatting also expected to send an explosive package called a Small Carry-on in soil.” rising atmospheric greenhouse gases. Impactor to Ryugu’s surface to make an artificial crater. Hayabusa2 During photosynthesis, plants remove “This is a natural process,” says Hannam. might collect another sample of the material exposed in the crater. CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into organic matter content.” As part of this research effort, Jones, Han- “Our results have to be considered in a broader Asteroids are bits and pieces leftover from the disc of gas and plant tissue such as roots, leaves, fruit or Hannam says greater organic matter in nam and fellow UBC Okanagan soil scientist context. Irrigation is essential to fruit pro- dust that formed around the young sun and never quite coalesced bark. At the same time, Jones explains, the soil has the benefit of sequestering greater Andrew Midwood have been analyzing the duction in the Okanagan Valley. Along with into a planet. They contain some almost pristine compounds that decomposition of dead plant tissue by soil atmospheric CO2and helping to combat cli- chemical forms of CO2 that leave the soil causing the release of CO2, from bicarbonates help tell what the early Solar System was like 4.5 billion years ago. organisms, including bacteria, fungi, earth- mate change while also improving the ability surface during irrigation. in the water, irrigation is also promoting Ryugu, as dark as coal, is a C-type, or carbonaceous, asteroid, worms, ants and others, produce CO2 and of the soil to grow crops — an outcome she Working in a drip-irrigated apple orchard, the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere meaning it is full of carbon molecules known as organics including release it back into the atmosphere. describes as a clear win-win. the study involved continuous measurement by encouraging plant growth. It’s a balance possibly amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Such molecules Converted into organic matter and to understand the balance, you need to are not always associated with biology and can form from chemical Critically, some of the CO2that was re- The agroecologist says greater organic know all the component parts.” reactions in deep space, but asteroids could have seeded Earth with moved from the atmosphere by plants can Their research has practical applications the organic matter that led to life. also be converted into soil organic matter matter in soil has the benefit of sequestering for any agriculture-based community in any (Source: NYT) by soil organisms, where it can remain in greater atmospheric CO2and helping to arid region, especially if the main source of the soil for hundreds of years,” says Kirsten irrigation is from an alkaline lake. As irrigation Hannam, an agroecologist with Agriculture combat climate change while also improving needs to expand across arid and semi-arid and Agri-Food Canada, and a co-author on the ability of the soil to grow crops — an regions, CO2 emissions originating from 14-year-old kid has reportedly the study. “So major research efforts are outcome she describes as a clear win-win. irrigation water may climb. become the youngest person to underway to figure out how to increase soil (Source: phys.org) achieve nuclear fusion

We might have a new contender for the youngest person to ever Pharmaceutical residues in fresh water pose Quantum dots can spit out clone-like achieve nuclear fusion. Tennessee teenager Jackson Oswalt is not your average 14-year- a growing environmental risk: new study photons, scientists suggest old. While other kids are playing video games or watching TV, he’s been busy putting together a nuclear laboratory in an old playroom Over the past 20 years, concentrations Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope in his house. of pharmaceuticals have increased in image (STEM) of single perovskite quantum The budding nuclear engineer has been working on this project freshwater sources all over the world, dots. New study shows that single perovskite since he was 12, and on 19 January 2018, just hours before his 13th as research by environmental experts quantum dots could be a fundamental build- birthday, he reportedly achieved his mission. at Radboud University has revealed. ing block for quantum-photonic technologies Using 50,000 volts of electricity, Oswalt was reportedly able to Levels of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin for computing or communications. combine two atoms of deuterium gas, successfully fusing the nuclei have reached the point of potentially In the global quest to develop practical in his reactor’s plasma core. causing damaging ecological effects. computing and communications devices After conducting some further tests over the following months, The research is the first to examine based on the principles of quantum phys- Oswalt became more convinced than ever that he had achieved fusion. the risks of two particular medicines in ics, one potentially useful component has “For those that haven’t seen my recent posts, it will come as a global freshwater sources, and is being proved elusive: a source of individual par- major surprise that I would even consider believing I had achieved published in Environmental Research Antibiotic resistance has been on ticles of light with perfectly constant, pre- ties of the photons in unpredictable ways, fusion,” he wrote on the fusor.net forum recently. Letters on February 22nd. The “study calls the agenda of the World Health Or- dictable, and steady characteristics. Now, destroying their coherence. “However, over the past month I have made an enormous amount for more widespread data gathering to ganization (WHO) and United Nations researchers at MIT and in Switzerland say Finding emitter materials that maintain of progress resulting from fixing major leaks in my system. I now measure the problem around the world.” General Assembly for a few years now. they have made major steps toward such a coherence and are also bright and stable is have results that I believe to be worthy.” “Getting an accurate picture of the “Generally, it’s seen as a problem for the single photon source. “fundamentally challenging,” Utzat says. environmental risks of pharmaceuti- health sector, as resistant bacteria can The study, which involves using a family That’s because not only the surroundings cals around the world depends on the be spread within hospitals or through of materials known as perovskites to make but even the materials themselves “essentially availability of data, which is limited,” livestock,” says Oldenkamp. light-emitting particles called quantum dots, provide a fluctuating bath that randomly says Rik Oldenkamp, lead author of the Various pathogens appears today in the journal Science. The interacts with the electronically excited article. “It’s true that there are models, “But there’s little awareness of the paper is by MIT graduate student in chem- quantum state and washes out the coher- such as the ePiE model, which can give role of the environment in this problem, istry Hendrik Utzat, professor of chemistry ence,” he says. detailed predictions of pharmaceuti- even though it becomes increasingly Moungi Bawendi, and nine others at MIT Coherent single photons cal concentrations in the environment, clear that the environment functions and at ETH in Zurich, Switzerland. “Without having a source of coherent but these are often only applicable to as a source of resistance for various The ability to produce individual photons single photons, you can’t use any of these places where we already have a lot of pathogens.” with precisely known and persistent prop- quantum effects that are the foundation of To be clear, these claims have not been peer-reviewed as yet - information, such as rivers in Europe.” “Our model predicts a relatively high erties, including a wavelength, or color, that optical quantum information manipulation,” until they’re replicated and the results are published in a peer-review environmental risk for ecoregions in does not fluctuate at all, could be useful for says Bawendi, who is the Lester Wolfe Pro- The new model journal, we need to take all of this with a very, very big grain of salt. densely populated and dry areas such as many kinds of proposed quantum devices. fessor of Chemistry. The new model developed by the re- The Open Source Fusor Research Consortium has also verified the Middle East, yet those are precisely Because each photon would be indistin- Another important quantum effect that searchers, which builds on an existing Oswalt’s results. According to Jason Hull, an administrator on the the areas where there is little data on guishable from the others in terms of its can be harnessed by having coherent pho- model with a lower resolution, makes website, Oswalt has now been added to the hobbyist group’s list of pharmaceutical use and concentrations quantum-mechanical properties, it could be tons, he says, is entanglement, in which two it possible to come up with worldwide successful fusioneers. in surface waters,” says Oldenkamp. possible, for example, to delay one of them photons essentially behave as if they were predictions for individual ecoregions. “Good work. Nice system. You have put some money into this,” The researchers predicted human and then get the pair to interact with each one, sharing all their properties. For the two pharmaceuticals investi- Hull wrote, applauding Oswalt’s work. pharmaceutical consumption in these other, in a phenomenon called interference. Previous chemically-made colloidal quan- gated in the study - carbamazepine, an He’s not wrong. While Oswalt’s nuclear reactor is considered a areas using regression models based on tum dot materials had impractically short anti-epileptic drug, and ciprofloxacin, The quantum interference “tiny volume fusor”, setting it up in an old playroom in his parents’ consumption in other countries, along coherence times, but this team found that an antibiotic - the environmental risks “This quantum interference between house cost something like $10,000 (£7,700). with socio-economic and demographic making the quantum dots from perovskites, were found to be 10 to 20 times higher different indistinguishable single photons (Source: sciencealert.com) in 2015 than in 1995. information, and linked this to infor- is the basis of many optical quantum infor- a family of materials defined by their crystal The increased human use of ciproflox- mation related to other factors such as mation technologies using single photons as structure, produced coherence levels that acin was found to have a particularly high water sources and the number of people information carriers,” Utzat explains. “But were more than a thousand times better than impact globally. “The concentrations of with access to wastewater treatment. it only works if the photons are coherent, previous versions. Branson’s Virgin Galactic this antibiotic can be harmful for bacteria “Our model shows a particular need meaning they preserve their quantum states The coherence properties of these colloidal in the water, and these bacteria in turn for new data in these types of areas,” for a sufficiently long time.” perovskite quantum dots are now approach- takes another step toward play an important role in various nutrient says Oldenkamp. The “model is really Many researchers have tried to produce ing the levels of established emitters, such as cycles,” says Oldenkamp. “Antibiotics a starting point for creating an insight sources that could emit such coherent single atom-like defects in diamond or quantum space tourism can also have a negative impact on the into the environmental risks posed by photons, but all have had limitations. Random dots grown by physicists using gas-phase A Virgin Galactic rocket plane on Friday soared to the edge of space effectiveness of bacteria colonies used pharmaceuticals all over the world.” fluctuations in the materials surrounding beam epitaxy. with a test passenger for the first time, nudging British billionaire in wastewater treatment.” (Source: eurekalert.org) these emitters tend to change the proper- (Source: sciencedaily.com) Richard Branson’s company closer to its goal of suborbital flights for space tourists. Virgin Galactic’s chief astronaut instructor Beth Moses, who will Researchers find recent drought may provide a glimpse of the future for birds in the Sierra Nevada train future space tourists, joined pilots onboard SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity to evaluate the customer experience and cabin. How wildlife respond to climate change is likely we added in the climate data and saw that birds area, the short-term effects on the avian com- “This is what we’re here to do, we’re here to fly people in the to be complex. To better understand the effects responded more positively to the warmer tem- munity were rather modest. back of our spaceship, that’s what it’s all about,” said pilot David of climate change on the bird community in the peratures than they were negatively impacted Researchers found that about one-third of the Mackay, who is now the first Scottish-born astronaut. “So for me Sierra Nevada region, new research published by the dead trees and dry conditions.” species decline with high tree mortality, but the it was an important step toward that operation.” today from Point Blue Conservation Science Overall, the total number of birds in the study magnitude of those declines was small relative The WhiteKnightTwo carrier airplane took off soon after 08:00 examines the impacts to birds from a recent area increased during the drought period and to the influence of the climate variables. And A.M. local time (11:00 A.M. ET) from the Mojave Air and Space extreme drought (2013-2016). the models project similarly high numbers in given more time, some species that utilize dead Port in California. It released the SpaceShipTwo passenger craft The drought resulted in the widespread response to warmer future climate conditions. trees, such as woodpeckers and other cavity at an altitude of about 44,000 feet and then the spaceship was death of pine trees due to attacks by bark bee- Nearly half of the species in the study responded nesters, may increase. catapulted to 55 miles above Earth. tles, potentially impacting wildlife habitat. While positively to temperature increase, while only Since an abundant and diverse assemblage The reusable SpaceShipTwo craft previously flew to an altitude the results were varied, researchers found that 20% declined. of birds still inhabits the forest stands affected of more than 51 miles in December 2018, marking the first U.S. many bird species responded positively to the the year 2050. Roughly one-third of the species declined by mortality, forest managers should consider commercial human flight beyond the atmosphere since the end climate conditions associated with the drought, Bird populations decline in response to higher water deficit, while one- this potentially important biodiversity when of America’s shuttle program in 2011. potentially offsetting the negative habitat impacts “When we began our research, we were not third increased. developing management responses like salvage Hundreds of spectators, including Virgin Galactic ticket holders of the dead trees. originally thinking that it would result in a ‘cli- Increased temperature logging and reforestation. and CEO George Whitesides, gathered on a clear morning in the Under the assumption that climate conditions mate paper,’” said L. Jay Roberts, Avian Forest However, many of the species that benefit “We are really lucky to have such a rich da- desert to watch this latest test flight. The flight was postponed and species’ responses to those conditions during Ecologist at Point Blue and lead researcher on the from increased temperature were also sensitive taset to work with,” said Roberts. “Working in from Wednesday due to winds. the drought are similar to those that may occur study. “Our hypothesis was that bird populations to high water deficit and tree mortality. Thus, partnership with the Forest Service to conduct “We’re in the 50th anniversary year of Apollo, and just like in the future, researchers assessed the influence would decline due to the large-scale tree deaths their positive response to increasing temper- this Bioregional Monitoring Project, we had nine they had to do each step, we have to expand the envelope and do of temperature, water deficit, and tree mortality that resulted from the drought. We were really atures in the future could be offset by drought years of rigorous observations, which allowed something more,” Whitesides told the crowd. on bird abundance for 45 species. Researchers surprised to see positive bird numbers after the or habitat change. us to answer this important emerging conser- Moses, now the first woman to fly onboard a commercial space then used those models to project the effect of drought and went looking for an explanation. While tree deaths from beetles resulted in vation question.” vehicle, called it an “indescribable ride,” adding: “Richard, you’re climate change on the bird community through Then, the results started to make sense when a widespread loss of live tree cover in the study (Source: natureworldnews.com) going to love it.” (Source: Reuters) ساعت: 15:30 امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY FEBRUARY 24, 2019 ‘TOD only way for Tehran to survive Natural mating raises hope for Persian leopard conservation air pollution’

ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — Two Persian leopards mated ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN – While some access to services and public transport, he desknaturally for the first time at Tehran Zoolog- deskexperts believe that Tran- also added. ical Garden on Wednesday and will breed by the next 100 days sit-Oriented Development (TOD) in the He went on to say that restrictions and in case of reproductive success, Mehr news agency reported. metropolis of Tehran is being carried out prohibitions should be imposed on car park- After diagnosing the female leopard and checking the male based on no proper principles and will not ing along the sidewalks or entering certain leopard sperm, their reproductive health has been ensured, so be effective, secretary of the TOD committee passages and fines must be adopted in some we decided to take hormonal interventions in order to increase of Tehran City Council has announced that cases. TOD can be properly implemented in the Moreover, pathways and green spaces must capital and mitigate air pollution. be enhanced for pedestrians, as walking can Tehrani citizens have described traffic and help living a healthy life, he further noted. air pollution as the two main problems chal- If we consider 300 TOD zones for Tehran, lenging them, ISNA quoted Afshin Khezrloo the total cost is 45 trillion rials (about $1.1 as saying on Friday citing results of a survey. billion), he concluded. The fact is that the traffic congestion can- According to tod.org transport oriented not be eradicated by optimizing traffic light development or as it is well-known TOD is control and coordination system, increasing the creation of compact, walkable, pedestri- passageways, building bridges and tunnels, an-oriented, mixed-use communities centered implementing transportation projects, he on high quality train systems. This makes noted, adding, so that there must be an effi- it possible to live a lower-stress life without cient solution, through which vehicle use is complete dependence on a car for mobility reduced and public transport is promoted. and survival. Lamenting that over 12 million liters TOD can be an optimal solution to the of petrol is consumed daily in the Iranian complicated, pressing problem of climate capital, which costs 120 trillion rials (about change and global energy security by creat- $2.9 billion) per year, he noted that some 40 ing communities which greatly minimize the trillion rials (about $950 million) of which need for driving and energy consumption. is partially paid by the residents, and over This type of living arrangement can reduce 80 trillion rials (nearly $1.9 billion) paid by frastructure, has exacerbated the capital’s ments, the city can be free of numerous cars driving by up to 85%. the probability of estrous detection and insemination, Iman the government. condition. moving and emitting particles. Components of TOD includes walkable Memarian, Tehran Zoological Garden director said. He went on to add that in fact it costs half To eradicated automobile-based cities, a TOD encourages the citizens to use the design with pedestrian, train station as Given that Kija, the female leopard, and Gaspar, the male of the municipality’s budget and ten times determined law enforcement is required along high quality public transport system rather prominent feature of town center, regional one, are both healthy, there is a very high chance of achieving a more than the Department of Environment with serious implementation of public trans- than private cars, he said, adding, to do so, node containing a mixture of uses in close live birth within less than 4 months, he highlighted. (DOE) budget for protecting the environment port development policies, he highlighted. there must be public transport stations all proximity (office, residential, retail, civic), Leopard litters typically contain two cubs, although litters and mitigating air pollution. If transport planning and urban devel- over the city with few distance. large ride-in bicycle parking areas within can number up to six cubs, he said, adding, Kija may give birth Meanwhile, Tehran is among the top 10 opment is considered as two main factors in Constructing residential and business stations and collector support transit systems to a litter of one or two cubs, while it is not farfetched that the metropolises in the world, which inflicts the urban planning, then cities will not inefficiently units around high-speed transport stations, including streetcar, light rail, and buses, etc. number of cubs increases due to natural mating. most time consuming traffic on its citizens, develop, he said, adding that human-centered is another major method of TOD, which en- Higher quality of life with better places Gaspar sent to Iran since a year and a half ago, he stated, while 4,500 people annually lose their lives urban development is a solution for Tehran to sures that all residents and employees have to live, work, and play, reduced traffic con- adding that this natural reproduction success has happened for due to air pollution, he regretted. survive from surrounding polluting vehicles. access to a high quality public transportation gestion, car accidents and injuries, healthier the first time in the country. He explained that apart from inappro- Referring to TOD as an infrastructure system, the density of the residential units lifestyle with more walking, and less stress, Emphasizing on the importance of success in captive breed- priate culture and social behavior among reform making the public transportation is at least 140 houses per hectare. reduced dependence on oil, reduced pollution ing or artificial insemination of Asiatic cheetahs, he noted that the residents, poor land use change policies system more efficient, he said that through Accordingly, there must be appropriate and environmental damages are among the although cheetah’s reproduction is more complicated due to low and not employing sustainable transport in- TOD and only with infrastructure improve- pathways and bicycles lanes, which facilitates benefits of TOD. quality of sperm, we hope that this pave the way for cheetahs breeding as well. The Persian leopard is listed as Endangered on the Inter- national Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List; Spinal cord injuries cause 2,000 disabilities annually in Iran the population is estimated at fewer than 871–1,290 mature SOCIETY TEHRAN — Every year some 2,000 peo- needed health care in low-income countries - 32-33% of individuals and considered declining. deskple with a disability involving their spinal non-disabled people are unable to afford health care com- According to the Department of Environment, 156 leopards cords are added to the population of disabled people in Iran, pared to 51-53% of people with disabilities. have been killed in Iran from 2005 to 2014, nearly 20 leopards Mustafa Seraj, an official with Welfare Organization has said. Limited availability of services, physical barriers such a year. Studies indicate that currently there are less than 500 Providing these people with healthcare services costs some as uneven access to buildings (hospitals, health centers), leopards nationwide. $3.6 trillion rials (nearly $85 million), Fars news agency inaccessible medical equipment, poor signage, narrow Persian leopards are mainly threatened by poaching, deple- quoted Seraj as saying on Saturday. doorways, internal steps, inadequate bathroom facilities, tion of their prey base due to poaching, human disturbances, Last year some 25,000 people were affected by spinal cord and inaccessible parking areas, and inadequate skills and habitat loss due to deforestation, fire, agricultural expansion, injuries, he regretted, adding that, annually some 17,000 die knowledge of health workers are some of the healthcare overgrazing, and infrastructure development. in traffic-related accidents and many more sustain injuries barriers for people with disabilities. In Iran, primary threats are habitat disturbances followed which might result in lifelong disabilities. Governments can improve health outcomes for people by illegal hunting and excess of livestock in the leopard habi- People suffering from disabilities involving their spinal with disabilities by improving access to quality, affordable tats. The leopards’ chances for survival outside protected areas cords should spend some 50 million rials (nearly $1,200) health care services, which make the best use of available appear very slim. causes. on a monthly basis over the first months of their disabilities People with disabilities have less access to health care resources. As several factors interact to inhibit access to to be stabilized, he added. services and therefore experience unmet health care needs. health care, reforms in all the interacting components of LEARN ENGLISH People with disabilities who live with their families should Barriers to healthcare the health care system are required. receive rehabilitation services at home which are covered People with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to Devising coherent policy, health care financing to en- by insurance companies, he highlighted. deficiencies in health care services. Depending on the group sure that people with disabilities are covered and consider Allergies According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and setting, persons with disabilities may experience greater measures to make the premiums affordable, integrating over a billion people, about 15% of the world›s population, vulnerability to secondary conditions, co-morbid conditions, disability education into undergraduate and continuing Jim: Argh...I feel terrible, I keep sneezing and my eyes are all have some form of disability. Between 110 million and 190 age-related conditions, engaging in health risk behaviors education for all health-care professionals, and conducting watery, what’s wrong with me? million adults have significant difficulties in functioning. and higher rates of premature death. more research on the needs, barriers, and health outcomes Tom: Wow, you’re not dying are you, it looks like you have a cold, Rates of disability are increasing due to population ageing Affordability of health services and transportation are for people with disabilities are some methods of addressing you should take some medicine. and increases in chronic health conditions, among other two main reasons why people with disabilities do not receive barriers to healthcare for people with disabilities. Jim: I don’t think it’s a cold, I feel fine if I move a few feet away from my desk. Tom: Maybe we should put you into quarantine ha-ha, jokes aside, I think you might have an allergy. ‘Extinct’ Galapagos tortoise found after 100 years Jim: An allergy? I never thought about that, I don’t think I’m A species of giant tortoise believed to have a government statement. Conservationists have taken the tortoise National Park. allergic to pollen though and I’m desensitized to bee stings been extinct for more than 100 years has been Washington Tapia, GTRI director and to a breeding center on the nearby island of The Galapagos archipelago includes 19 after being stung so many times, Hmm... discovered on the Galapagos island of Fer- expedition leader, said that genetic studies Santa Cruz. islands in the Pacific Ocean roughly 621 miles Jim: Ow! Why did you chuck that peanut at me? nandina, according to Ecuador’s government. will be carried out to “reconfirm” that the The Fernandina Giant Tortoise is one of (1,000km) from the Ecuadorian coast. Fer- Tom: Just checking if you’re allergic to peanuts, I guess not. The last known time a Fernandina Giant tortoise found belongs to the Fernandina 14 giant tortoise species native to the Galap- nandina, the third largest and youngest of the Jim: Not funny! I could have gone into Anaphylactic Shock. Tortoise was seen alive was 1906. Island species. agos Islands, most of which are endangered. islands, remains the most volcanically active. Tom: Okay my bad, how about dust? This office is full of it. An adult female believed to be more Experts believe she is not alone. The tracks The tortoises have been killed over the past The Galapagos were declared a national Jim: Yes, the whole is office isdusty yet I only feel affected near than a century old was seen alive on Sunday and scent of other tortoises, believed to be two centuries, both for food and for their park in 1959 and a UNESCO World Heritage our desks! during an expedition by the Giant Tortoise of the same species, were also observed by oil, according to the Galapagos Conservancy, Site in 1978. Tom: Check these out! Restoration Initiative (GTRI), according to the team. which jointly forms GTRI with the Galapagos (Source: CNN) Jim: You brought your cat into the office?! Tom: Yes, it’s his birthday today, I didn’t want him to be alone on his special day!! Jim: ACHOO! Argh put it away ACHOO! ENGLISH IN USE Tom: I guess we found the problem, you’re allergic to cats! Key vocabulary LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION sneeze: if you sneeze, air suddenly comes from your nose, making a noise, for example when you have a cold quarantine: a strict isolation imposed to prevent the spread of disease Headquarters set up for برگزاری جلسه ستاد بازآفرینی پایدار شهر تهران aside: used to show that something you have just said is not as important as what you are going to say next renovating run-down areas پیــروز حناچــی شــهردار تهــران روز پنــج شــنبه از برگــزاری جلســه ســتاد بازآفرینــی پایــدار شــهر pollen: the fertilizing element of flowering plants, consisting Headquarters for sustainable renovation of run-down areas in the capital of fine, powdery, yellowish grains or spores city of Tehran has been established, Tehran Mayor Pirouz Hanachi said تهــران پــس از دو ســال وقفــه خبــر داد. desensitize: to lessen the sensitiveness of بــه گــزارش گــروه اجتماعــی باشــگاه خبرنــگاران جــوان، پیــروز حناچــی شــهردار تهــران در صفحــه .chuck: to throw something in a careless or relaxed way on Thursday allergic: have allergy towards something “After two years of putting off the matter the headquarters for sustainable توئیتــر خــود نوشــت: پــس از دو ســال تاخیــر، دومیــن جلسـ ـه ســتاد بازآفرینــی پایــدار شــهر تهــران -anaphylactic shock: severe and sometimes fatal allergic re بــا حضــور دســتگاههای عضــو تشــکیل شــد. نیــت و همتمــان بــر آن اســت کــه در ســایه مدیریتــی action to a foreign substance such as bee venom renovation of the run-down areas in Tehran was formed… we are planning یکپارچــه، گامهایــی موثــر و هماهنــگ، بــا محوریــت مشــارکت شــهروندان، بــرای نوســازی بافتهــای dust: dry fine powdery material, such as particles of dirt, earth on taking effective steps by mobilizing integrated management and public Supplementary vocabulary participation to renovate the run-down areas,” Hanachi wrote in Persian فرســوده و ناکارآمــد شــهر تهــران برداریــم. sneeze: to expel air and nasal secretions from the nose involuntarily hay fever: an allergic reaction to pollen, dust on his twitter account. contagious: capable of being transmitted by bodily contact with an infected person or object (Source: irlanguage.com) PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM Without “hepato-, hepat-” Wear off Eat like a horse Meaning: liver Meaning: if pain or the effect of something wears off, Explanation: to eat large quantities of food earth no For example: A hepatotoxic agent is one which is it gradually stops For example: Kim is staying for dinner, and she eats known to cause liver damage, such as alcohol. For example: The effects of the anaesthetic were like a horse, so you better make some extra food. birth! starting to wear off. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 24, 2019 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 U.S. plot aims to prevent displaced Syrians from Bahraini FM draws ridicule returning home, warns official by hailing bin Salman as Wall A high-ranking member of the Lebanese The return of refugees took place in Hezbollah resistance movement has warned the southern Lebanese cites and districts of China about a U.S. plot to prevent the return of of Tripoli, Arsal, Tyre and Nabatieh, and Syrian refugees to their homeland so that the under the supervision of Lebanon’s Gener- Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifah has displaced people could be used as a pressure al Security in cooperation with the United sparked international ridicule by drawing a parallel between the “lever” against Damascus. Nations refugee agency. House of Saud regime Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “Tens of thousands have already returned The refugees returned home in buses sent (MBS) and the Great Wall of China. to Syria, and are now living normal lives. by Syrian authorities throug al-Zamrani, On his Twitter account, Khalifah posted a photo of bin Salman Why do some people in Lebanon are stand- Jdeidat Yabous and al-Dabbousiya border on the Great Wall of China, saying, “Like the Chinese who have ing against the return of displaced people?” crossings. a wall, we have bin Salman.” Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh The refugees underwent medical checks He also described the heir to the Saudi throne as a tall wall Naim Qassem said on Saturday. and polio vaccines were administered to that no aggressor could ever reach it. He said there was a global scheme, spear- children. They were then transferred to The praise comes amid mounting criticism of bin Salam over headed by Washington, which sought to pre- Syria’s northern and central provinces of the years-long Saudi regime war on Yemen and the killing of vent the return of Syrian refugees under the Idlib and Homs in addition to other areas dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. pretext that the situation in the country was in the crisis-stricken Arab country. This week, the Saudi crown prince traveled to Pakistan, India still unstable. More than 1,000 Syrian refugees also and China in his first major, multi-destination tour outside the “After they failed to advance their pro- returned to their homeland from different Middle East since Khashoggi’s murder last October. jects through support for militant groups, areas in Lebanon, including Nabatieh, Bekaa, He signed investment agreements worth $20 billion during they have now organized this conspiracy,” Tripoli and Shabaa on December 16, 2018. his trip to cash-strapped Pakistan and cemented a $10 billion deal Sheikh Qassem pointed out. If you are referring to the Lebanese Consti- liberate the country from the clutches of The Arabic-language Elnashra online inde- for a refining and petrochemical complex in China. The prince The senior Hezbollah official underlined tution, the Constitution makes mention of foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorist groups. pendent newspaper reported that the return also vowed a $100 billion Saudi investment in India. that the U.S. was harming Lebanon through privileged relations with Syria. If you are “Lebanon calls on the international of refugees took place under the supervision Bin Salma’s Asian tour is widely believed to be aimed at reha- the issue of displaced Syrians as it wanted talking about Lebanon’s interests, then it is community to make all efforts possible of Lebanon’s General Security Directorate bilitating his image months after the assassination of Khashoggi the Beirut government to remain at the in the country’s best interests that the refu- and provide suitable conditions for a safe in cooperation with the Lebanese army. inside the Saudi regime consulate in Istanbul. minimum level of efficacy. gees return to their country. We have a very return of displaced Syrians,” Aoun told an More than one million Syrian refugees Bahrain, a staunch Saudi ally, has long been following in Ri- Sheikh Qassem, however, said “some difficult economic and social situation…” the Arab economic summit in Beirut. are registered with the United Nations High yadh’s footsteps in its foreign and domestic policies. political parties in Lebanon will frustrate Hezbollah deputy secretary general added. Lebanon’s official National News Agency Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in The Bahraini people has been holding regular pro-democracy this scheme, and will sustain the country’s On January 20, Lebanese President reported on December 24 last year that more Lebanon. The Beirut government estimates protests since February 2011, demanding that the House of Khal- sovereignty.” Michel Aoun urged world powers to “make than 1,000 Syrian refugees had returned that the true number of Syrians in Lebanon ifah relinquish power and establish a just system representing “I want to ask those who do not want the all efforts” to help the repatriation of Syrian to their homeland from various areas in stands at 1.5 million. all Bahrainis. return of Syrian: What is your justification? refugees as Damascus forces continue to Lebanon. (Source: Press TV) Bahrainis have also complained against widespread discrimi- nation against the Shia majority in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom. Manama has responded to the demonstrations with an iron fist. In March 14, 2011, troops from the Saudi regime and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were deployed to Bahrain to Trump picks ambassador to Canada for UN post the regime in quashing the dissent. Donald Trump announced that he has selected Kelly Craft, pressing array of foreign policy concerns in which the United Scores of protesters have lost their lives and hundreds of others the U.S. ambassador to Canada, as his nominee to serve as Nations, particularly the UN Security Council, is likely to sustained injuries or put behind bars as a result of the House of the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. play a significant role. From Afghanistan to Venezuela, Khalifah regime’s crackdown. Trump said in a pair of tweets that Craft “has done an the administration has pressing concerns that involve the The regime has also detained rights campaigners, broken up outstanding job representing our Nation” and he has “no world body, and officials said there had been impatience major opposition political parties and revoked the nationality of doubt that, under her leadership, our Country will be rep- with the delays on Nauert’s formal nomination. pro-democracy activists. resented at the highest level.” Trump said Dec. 7 that he would pick the former Fox In recent months, the Bahraini regime has also stepped up Two people familiar with the matter who spoke on con- News anchor and State Department spokeswoman for the its attempts to normalize relations with Israel. dition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters had told UN job, but her nomination was never formalized. Notwith- On Friday, people took to the streets of the Baharini villages The Associated Press that Trump had been advised that standing other concerns that may have arisen during her of Ma’ameer, Abu Saiba, Shakhurah to express their anger at Craft’s confirmation would be the smoothest of the three confirmation, Nauert’s nomination had languished in part any normalization of ties with Tel Aviv. candidates he had been considering to fill the job last held due to the 35-day government shutdown that began Dec. (Source: Press TV) by Nikki Haley. 22 and interrupted key parts of the vetting process. Nauert Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had cited family considerations in withdrawing from the post. “I hope that Ms. Craft will continue, like Nikki Haley, backed Craft for the post, and she also has the support With Nauert out of the running, officials said Pompeo to be a bridge between Washington and the UN at a time of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security had been keen on Craft to fill the position. Although Pompeo when we more than ever need an America that is engaged Venezuela closes Colombia adviser John Bolton, the people said. Trump’s first pick to would like to see the job filled, the vacancy has created an with the UN in world affairs and committed to our shared replace Haley, State Department spokeswoman Heather opportunity for him and others to take on a more active values, beginning with human rights,” DeLattre said. border as aid dispute turns Nauert, withdrew over the weekend. role in UN. diplomacy. On Thursday, for example, Pompeo Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the deadly McConnell praised Craft as “an exceptional choice for was in New York to meet with UN chief Antonio Guterres. University of Toronto, said Craft was appointed ambas- this critical post.” He added, “She has a long record of ser- Trump has demoted the UN position to sub-Cabinet sador to Canada because of her financial contributions to Venezuela’s military is braced for a showdown with opposition vice to her state and the nation and I’m confident she will rank, in a move backed by both Bolton and Pompeo, ac- the Trump campaign, but said that’s not unusual as past supporters at the country’s border crossings with Colombia and continue to serve with distinction as America’s voice to the cording to three other officials. Grenell had suggested he ambassadors have also contributed to presidents who have Brazil ahead of a United States-backed effort to bring aid in. world at the United Nations.” wasn’t interested in a non-Cabinet role. The officials were appointed them. The National Guard fired tear gas at a crowd of people clearing Craft, a Kentucky native, was a member of the U.S. not authorized to discuss internal personnel deliberations “I think Ottawa has regarded Craft as a lightweight, a barricaded border bridge on Venezuela’s border with Colombia delegation to the UN General Assembly under President and spoke on condition of anonymity. partly because of her background and partly because the at dawn on Saturday, a day after soldiers opened fire on indige- George W. Bush’s administration. She is also friends with Haley had been a member of the Cabinet and had clashed sense is that Trump, unlike his predecessors, doesn’t listen nous people near the border with Brazil, killing two and injuring McConnell’s wife, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, repeatedly with former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and to his ambassadors or care what they think,” Wiseman said. at least 15 others. and thanked Chao for her “longtime friendship and support” others during the administration’s first 14 months. Bolton Craft is married to billionaire coal-mining executive Joe The government of President Nicolas Maduro, who has dis- at her swearing-in as ambassador. was not a Cabinet member when he served as UN ambas- Craft, and they are major Republican donors. missed the aid effort as a “cheap show” and pretext for a U.S. As U.S. ambassador to Canada, she played a role in sador in President George W. Bush’s administration, and After being named ambassador to Canada, Craft made invasion, has partially closed Venezuela’s border with Colombia, facilitating the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, a neither he nor Pompeo is eager to see a potential challenge headlines for telling the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. that and shut down crossings from Brazil and the Dutch Caribbean revamp of the North American Free Trade Agreement. to their foreign policy leadership in White House situation she believes in “both sides” of climate science. island of Curacao. Trump had also considered U.S. Ambassador to Germany room meetings, according to the officials. Craft has been ambassador during a low point in rela- The United States, which is among dozens of nations to rec- Richard Grenell and former U.S. Senate candidate John France’s UN Ambassador Francois Delattre said she looks tions. Last year Trump called Canadian Prime Minister ognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate James of Michigan for the post. forward to working with Craft, if confirmed by the Senate, Justin Trudeau weak and dishonest, words that shocked president, has stockpiled some 600 tons of aid in the Colombian Nauert’s withdrawal from consideration came amid a “after the particularly close and trusting partnership that I Canadians. frontier town of Cucuta to ship across the border this weekend. push within the administration to fill the position, given a had developed with Ambassador Nikki Haley.” (Source: AP) The Brazilian government said it has stockpiled 200 tons of food and medicine in the town of Boa Vista With tensions running high after Guaido declared himself Venezuela’s interim president last month, Maduro has denied there is a humanitarian crisis in the country despite widespread 3 UK ministers throw weight behind Brexit delay to stop no-deal shortages of food and medicine and hyperinflation. At least four National Guard officers on Saturday at the bor- Three British cabinet ministers have pub- the sidelines of an EU-League of Arab States seeing Brexit delayed. der disavowed Maduro’s government and requested assistance licly indicated they will back plans to delay summit on Sunday, but EU diplomats are Both May’s Conservatives and the main from the Colombian government, Colombia’s migration agency Brexit if lawmakers vote down Prime Min- not expecting any imminent breakthrough. opposition Labour Party are formally com- said on Saturday. ister Theresa May’s plan for a new deal with In the column headlined “If we don’t get a mitted to delivering Brexit. In recent days In Kumarakapay in southern Venezuela on Friday, residents the European Union, writing a column in a deal next week we must delay Brexit,” Clark, Labour has appeared to soften its stance told Reuters news agency that soldiers entered their village and national newspaper Saturday. Rudd and Gauke wrote that a no-deal exit on a second referendum, although May has opened fire when residents tried to block a military convoy they Business Minister Greg Clark, Work and was a risk to business, security and British ruled such an option out. believed was headed towards the Brazilian border to block aid Pensions Minister Amber Rudd, and Justice territorial unity, and accused some parlia- Lawmakers from both parties, however, deliveries Minister David Gauke signaled in a Daily ment colleagues of complacency. are deeply split over how or even whether An indigenous couple were killed and at least 15 people were Mail column that they will side with rebels “Far from Brexit resulting in a newly Britain will leave, and no majority has so injured, residents said. and opposition parties next week to stop independent United Kingdom stepping far emerged in parliament for any compre- Seven of the injured were rushed by ambulance to a hospital Britain leaving without a divorce deal on boldly into the wider world, crashing out hensive Brexit strategy. in Brazil’s Boa Vista, a spokesperson for the state governor’s March 29 if necessary, adding their weight to on March 29 would see us poorer, less secure May has promised that if she does not office said. calls for May to rule out a no-deal departure. and potentially splitting up,” they said, re- supply chains will be severely disrupted and bring a revised deal back by Feb. 27, parlia- Diosdado Cabello, one of the most prominent figures in Ma- May is struggling against the clock to get ferring to the threat of a new bid for Scottish investment will be discouraged,” they wrote. ment will have an opportunity to vote on the duro’s Socialist Party, accused the civilians involved in the clash a deal with Brussels on Britain’s exit from independence. The ministers called on members of next steps. Some lawmakers are expected to of being “violent groups” directed by the opposition. the world’s largest trading bloc that will “Our economy will be damaged severely the European Research Group, formed by use that to try to wrest control of the process The Venezuelan opposition is planning to hold three simul- pass parliamentary muster. She will meet both in the short and the long term. Costs will Conservative pro-Brexit lawmakers, to back from the government. taneous aid pushes on Saturday. European Council President Donald Tusk on increase, businesses that rely on just-in-time the government’s deal in parliament or risk (Source: AP) On Friday, Guaido, the opposition leader, made a surprise appearance in Cucuta during a concert organized by British bil- lionaire Sir Richard Branson. In remarks after the event, Guaido spoke alongside Colombian Germany ‘seeks extradition’ of Syria’s Jamil Hassan from Lebanon President Ivan Duque and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and said he had been able to circumvent Maduro’s travel ban Germany has asked Lebanon to extradite Syrian General because of his role in cracking down on protesters. national Criminal Court (ICC) and its citizens, therefore, only with the help of the armed forces. Jamil Hassan, Der Spiegel reported, after the notorious chief However, Germany has shied away from officially con- cannot be prosecuted in The Hague. Furthermore, Russia “The question of the moment is for the armed forces because of Syria’s Air Force Intelligence Directorate was reportedly firming the extradition request. Al Jazeera reached out and China have vetoed several attempts to set up an inter- we know society is absolutely mobilized to help others,” he said. admitted to a hospital in Lebanon. to the country’s federal prosecutor’s office but had yet to national tribunal to adjudicate on the crimes, purportedly to “The question is, how to do this when airspace, maritime access, The German federal prosecutor had issued an arrest receive a response at the time of publication. protect high-ranking officials in the Syrian administration roads are closed.” warrant against the general in June for committing crimes Lebanon’s Interior Ministry denied receiving any noti- such as General Hassan. Duque meanwhile urged Venezuela’s military to be on “the against humanity based on a complaint filed by Syrian ref- fication from Interpol to arrest the general. However, Germany’s universal jurisdiction laws allow right side of history”, calling the delivery of aid an “irreversible, ugees in Germany. Michael Aoun, Lebanon’s president, said that if it to prosecute people for war crimes committed anywhere historic process”. Thousands of Syrians have allegedly been tortured in General Hassan was in Lebanon, his office did not in the world. Just last week, two Syrian intelligence officials Hours later, Caracas said it had sealed the Colombian bor- detention centers under the direct control of General Hassan, know. “If he (General Hassan) sneaked in because were apprehended by German law enforcement. Anwar der across the whole of Tachira - the western state that borders Syria’s longest-serving intelligence chief and considered of the difficulty of controlling the border, it must be R was arrested for his involvement in torturing Syrians Cucuta - citing threats to Venezuela’s security. to be among the most powerful officials in the country. investigated,” Aoun said. between 2011-12 and Eyad A for assisting in the killing of “Due to the serious and illegal threats attempted by the Gov- Al-Masdar, an Arabic-language news outlet, first reported Aoun’s political party, the Free Patriotic Movement two and torturing of at least 2,000 people. ernment of Colombia against peace and sovereignty in Venezuela, on Thursday that General Hassan was in Lebanon to seek (at-Tayy?r al-Wa?an? al-Horr/Aounist party), is an ally These two officials were in Germany while General Has- [the Venezuelan government] has taken the decision of a total, medical treatment. There has been no official confirmation of Hezbollah in the Lebanese parliament. However, experts san is unlikely to ever set foot in Europe. Germany cannot temporary closure of all bridges that unite both countries in on his whereabouts since. said information about the possible whereabouts of the prosecute in absentia, leading experts to believe that he Tachira,” Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela’s vice president, wrote General Hassan is a member of al-Assad’s inner circle. Syrian general may well have been concealed from him. would escape a trial. on Twitter. The United States Treasury Department froze his assets Syria is not a signatory to the Rome Statute of the Inter- (Source: Al Jazeera) (Source: agencies) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS FEBRUARY 24, 2019 Nike stocks skid after Zion Williamson’s FIFA strips Peru of hosting Under-17 World Cup shoe blowout Peru will no longer host the Under-17 World Cup in October Sports apparel giant Nike’s shares took a “At this juncture, we are optimistic that after being stripped of the tournament by FIFA on Friday over $1.1 billion hit on Thursday as the fallout while negative headlines might weigh upon concerns about the infrastructure. from Duke forward Zion Williamson’s knee Nike shares for a bit, any lasting damage to the The decision was taken by the bureau of the FIFA Council injury continues on social media. company and its shares will prove minimal,” which features the six regional confederation presidents and Approximately 30 seconds into the No. 1 Oppenheimer retail analyst Brian Nagel said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Blue Devils’ game against North Carolina on in a note. “Nike senior management has a The tournament was due to be staged in October after Peru Wednesday night, Williamson’s left shoe fell history of acting masterfully at always pro- was awarded the competition last June. apart on the court as he planted hard while tecting and enhancing the company’s brand But following various inspection visits, FIFA said it found a dribbling near the line, causing image with core customers, even through “number of organizational and infrastructure challenges linked him to slip and fall. The blue rubber sole moments of pronounced consternation.” to the event delivery.’’ ripped loose from the white shoe from the Fans, however, took to social media fol- FIFA is evaluating alternative host countries, which were not heel to the toes along the outside edge, with lowing the incident, dunking on Nike. specified. England is the defending champion after winning the Williamson’s foot coming all the way through Former President Barack Obama — who 2017 edition in India. the large gap. watched the game courtside near the Duke (Source: AP) Williamson — who is widely projected to bench — said on Twitter that Williamson be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft “seems like an outstanding young man as — clutched his right knee after the fall but was well as an outstanding basketball player. able to walk off the court by himself. Duke Wishing him a speedy recovery.” Nike ex- Goggia gets off mark in announced Thursday that Williamson was clusively supplies Duke’s basketball team diagnosed with a Grade 1 right knee sprain, with uniforms, shoes and gear. Endorsement Crans-Montana downhill and his status is day-to-day. By Thursday deals with star athletes, including Colin morning, Nike, which manufactured the shoes While this is an isolated occurrence, we are 1.1 percent at $83.95, erasing approximately Kaepernick, LeBron James and Serena Williamson was wearing, also was feeling working to identify the issue.” $1.1 billion from the company’s market cap- Williams, and sponsorship from top col- the impact of the injury. “We are obviously Investors, however, were clearly disap- italization since Wednesday’s close. lege basketball and football teams are part concerned and want to wish Zion a speedy re- pointed by the fiasco and Nike’s stock price “Shoes have failed before, but not as of Nike’s growth strategy. Last year, the covery,” Nike said in a statement to the Herald opened down Thursday morning by 1 percent visibly,” said Matt Powell, a senior indus- company spent $11.6 billion on marketing on Thursday. “The quality and performance on the New York Stock Exchange. By closing, try adviser for sports for the NPD Group, a and endorsement contracts. of our products are of utmost importance. the Oregon-based company’s stocks were down market research firm. (Source: Boston Herald)

Charles Leclerc hopes to give Ferrari PSG chairman says Neymar, Mbappe to ‘problem’ in Sebastian Vettel duel stay, hints at future signings

Olympic champion Sofia Goggie marked up a belated first World Cup win of season in Saturday’s downhill at Crans-Montana in Switzerland. The Italian was sidelined for three months after fracturing her ankle in October, only making her comeback last month. She took super-g silver at the world championships in Are and went one better in Saturday’s World Cup race. The 26-year-old was joined on the podium by Switzerland’s Joana Haehlen with Austrian Nicole Schmidhofer in third. This was Goggia’s sixth career World Cup win and fourth in the discipline. With two downhills of the women’s season remaining Schmidhofer leads the race for the discipline honors from her compatriot Ramona Siebenhofer. (Source: AFP)

Charles Leclerc hopes he is competitive first race and if Mattia has the problem to Paris Saint-Germain chairman and CEO said. “With revenue increasing, for sure, enough against Sebastian Vettel to give manage two quick drivers then it’s a good Nasser Al-Khelaifi has emphatically told we will buy more players. Diogo Dalot uses first Ferrari a welcome “problem” in their pursuit sign for me.” ESPN FC that superstars Neymar and Kylian “We will speak with the coach and find of F1’s world titles this year. ---Who’s gone fastest and furthest at Mbappe will be staying with the club for out which players he wants. It is too early paycheck to buy minibus for Ferrari’s new boss, Mattia Binotto, sug- Testing? the foreseeable future. to decide which players we will or will not gested at the launch of the team’s new car “if Leclerc added: “But I want to focus on Speaking exclusively on Friday with ESPN buy, but we will see what the coach wants. former club there are particular situations our priority myself, trying to improve every time I’m FC after confirming a new three-year partner- “In terms of FFP, we always respect it. will be Sebastian”, the team’s established going in the car. It’s a top team and they are ship with Accor’s Accor Live Limitless (ALL) So, we were not worried about FFP -- even Diogo Dalot used his first paycheck at Manchester United to lead driver of the last four years. quite different to the team I was in before that moves the club into Europe’s top four in without the Accor contract.” buy a minibus for the club where he began his playing career. “I think it’s normal, especially early in so it’s a bit of an adaption.” terms of shirt sponsorship deals, Al-Khelaifi Al-Khelaifi also took the opportunity to The 19-year-old, who signed for United from Porto in the the season, he is the guide with which we ---Leclerc eager to learn from Vettel rejected the idea that the Ligue 1 giants were express his happiness with “amazing” injured summer, played for four years at the Escola de Futebol O Fintas aim for the championship,” said Binotto. While naturally keen to beat each other facing the prospect of selling at least one of star Neymar and is looking forward to seeing in his native Braga. After starring in his rookie season at on track over race weekends, both Vettel their stars this summer because of UEFA’s the Brazil international back in action PSG Dalot acquired a new nine-seater for his former football school Sauber to earn a promotion to the team he and Leclerc have insisted it is Ferrari’s financial fair play (FFP). push for domestic and continental glory as and surprised them this month, it has emerged. says he has always dreamed of driving for, wider interests which come first as the “Kylian and Neymar are PSG players,” said the season reaches its business end. “Diogo had sent us a signed [Manchester United] jersey and Leclerc says he is “realistic” about where team look to end what is now an 11-year the Qatari. “They will stay PSG players and “You know, Neymar is doing amazing we were talking to him on Skype when he told us to go outside he currently is in his career. title drought. they would have -- with, or without, Accor.” here,” said Al-Khelaifi.”He is very happy of the building and we saw that there was a bus parked outside,” But he still hopes to quickly be in a Vettel has already said he is not expecting Al-Khelaifi then hinted that PSG’s days here with PSG and we are very, very happy Luis Travessa Martins, founder and coordinator of the Escola position to challenge his new team-mate. any personal problems with his new young of spending lavishly could be back thanks to with him. Neymar has added amazing value de Futebol O Fintas, told ESPN FC on Thursday. “Obviously I will be happy if I get used team-mate and Leclerc confirms they are their latest revenue stream -- which is almost to the club -- on and off the pitch. “It was new and adapted for the requirements we needed. It to this car as soon as possible and that already “working very well together”. double what outgoing sponsor Emirates were “What Neymar has done with PSG so far was a very gratifying surprise. He had kept it a secret. He told I’m straight on the pace,” said Leclerc, “Seb is a very nice guy and it’s not dif- paying -- and has a further option of three is amazing. There are many things that he us that with his first pay-check [at United], he wanted to give it who enjoyed a productive opening week ficult to get on with him, so that’s good. years. Although he insisted that FFP will al- wants to do here -- he wants to win more us this as a gift. We are a small club, so every help is welcomed.” of testing at Barcelona in the promising “We are working on different things ways be respected as Les Parisiens remain trophies and that is what we want to do too. Despite leaving the Escola de Futebol O Fintas at the age of new Ferrari. with the car and it’s good to have Seb next under scrutiny and have an appeal with the Neymar could be back for the Champions nine, Dalot has always remained in touch with the school. “But I’m realistic too, it’s only my second to me during these days [at testing]. It’s Court of Arbitration for Sport pending. League quarterfinals if PSG can finish the “Whenever he comes to Braga, he comes to visit us, he watches season in Formula 1 and I have a lot to learn. good to see what are his strong points and “For sure, [the new partnership deal] job from the first leg and see off Manchester the games and takes time to talk to the young players,” Martins “There’s a long road ahead, but I’m what I can learn from him.” will increase our revenue to allow us to United in next month’s Paris return. said. “He is an inspiration to our players.” pushing to be as ready as possible for the (Source: Sky Sports) invest more -- this is a big deal for us,” he (Source: ESPN) (Source: Soccernet)

Billiards group eyes 2028 Patriots owner Robert Kraft charged in Florida prostitution sting Robert Kraft, owner of the Super Bowl-winning New England that he was “very sad” to hear about the charges. after unsuccessful bid for Patriots, was charged in Florida with soliciting prostitution “I was very surprised to see it,” the president said. “He’s after he was captured on video engaging in sex acts with a proclaimed his innocence totally. And - but I’m very sur- 2024 inclusion worker at a massage parlor, police said on Friday. prised to see it.” Kraft, 77, a billionaire businessman who built the Patriots No one answered the phone at the Orchids of Asia Day into the National Football League’s most dominant franchise, Spa on Friday. was swept up in a police sting targeting sex-trafficking in The spa’s website advertises body treatments, facials and day spas and massage parlors in several Florida counties. massages, such as the “Tokyo Ultimate 4 Hand.” Standard The operation has led to hundreds being charged. services generally cost $59 for a half hour and $79 for an Kraft, who lives in Massachusetts but owns property in hour, police said. Palm Beach, Florida, is accused of visiting Orchids of Asia The owner of Goodfella’s Pizza across the street, Joseph Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida, on two separate occasions to Bompartito, 33, said he frequently saw young women who solicit sex. The two charges he faces are misdemeanors. worked at the spa walking through the shopping plaza where Authorities have video evidence depicting the acts in it is located. question after installing hidden cameras inside the spa, “They looked miserable, malnourished, very skinny, very police officials said, adding that Kraft had been dropped pale with a depressed look on their face,” he said. off by a driver. He also recalled seeing Kraft getting into a chauffeured car The group bidding for cue sports to be added to the Olympic A spokesman for Kraft and the Patriots, Aaron Salkin, at the plaza about two weeks ago, saying he waved to Kraft program is targeting the 2028 Games in Los Angeles after missing said in a statement, “We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft and the Patriots owner waved back out of the car window. out on Paris 2024. It was announced on Thursday that billiard engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, Kraft, widely considered one of the NFL’s most powerful sports - along with squash and chess - would not feature in France. we will not be commenting further.” his father-in-law’s product-packaging business, is worth and influential owners, has become a hero to may Bostonians. World Confederation of Billiards Sports general secretary Kraft could face discipline under the league’s personal $6.6 billion, according to Forbes magazine. Early this month hundreds of thousands of people lined the Diane Wild said the Billiards 2024 group had staged a “truly conduct policy, which applies to team owners and prohib- Since Kraft bought the Patriots 25 years ago for $172 city’s streets to see the owner and his team celebrate their great bidding campaign”. its “conduct detrimental to the integrity” of the NFL. In million, the team has become the most successful franchise sixth Super Bowl win. She added the decision of the organizers was “a disappointment”. 2004, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was suspended in the NFL, appearing in 10 Super Bowls and winning six Some top Massachusetts officials on Friday voiced deep “Our goal is now to move ahead and stay united for the rec- six games and fined $500,000 after he pleaded guilty to titles, including Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3. The franchise is concern over the charges. ognition of our sport,” said Wild. driving while on drugs. now worth an estimated $3.7 billion, according to Forbes. Governor Charles Baker “finds these allegations deeply Billiards 2024 said in its statement it was looking forward to In a statement, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said, Kraft’s wife of many decades, Myra Hiatt Kraft, died in disturbing and condemns all acts of sexual exploitation,” “another bidding campaign in the land where pool was born, where “The NFL is aware of the ongoing law enforcement matter 2011 of ovarian cancer. He has not remarried. Anisha Chakrabarti, a spokeswoman for the governor, said we could take part in the Olympic Games 2028 in Los Angeles”. and will continue to monitor developments.” Kraft is a close friend and supporter of U.S. President in an email. (Source: BBC) Kraft, who made his fortune buying out and building up Donald Trump, who said told reporters in the Oval Office (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 24, 2019 SPORTS 15

Iran eye FIFA Beach Soccer Persepolis held by Naft Masjed Soleyman: IPL

SPORTS TEHRAN — Persepolis football team were held deskto a goalless draw by Naft Masjed Soleyman World Cup berth: Octavio in Iran Professional League (IPL) on Saturday. In the match held in Behnam Mohammadi’s Stadium, two SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran na- “In my opinion, Iran beach soccer teams played a lackluster match. desktional beach soccer team department moves in right direction Persepolis moved up to second place with this result. coach Marco Octavio says they will par- and I hope the federation will support Sepahan have the same points but sit top due to a better goal ticipate at the Asian championship with it more. The beach soccer department difference. “I am satisfied with the way we did against Naft Masjed the aim of booking a place in the FIFA needs more support to launch a standard Soleyman. It was very difficult to play in this turf. Also, our experi- Beach Soccer World Cup. league,” Octavio added. enced defenders Jalal Hosseini and Shoja Khalilzadeh were absent Team Melli have been drawn in Group “Due to the fact that Iran beach soccer in this match due to injury,” Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic said. D along with Oman and Iraq in the 2019 team have defeated the world’s giants, AFC Beach Soccer Championship Thailand. namely Brazil, Spain, Russia, Portugal The second edition of the premier beach and Italy, they need more support too. soccer championship in Asia will be an Beach soccer is very interesting for the Azmoun named UEFA important competition as the top three Iranian people and I find out this matter teams will represent the Continent in the when I meet them in the streets. From Europa League Player 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2012 I started my job here, we have won of the Week Paraguay. nine international cups and I think the The AFC Beach Soccer Championship team deserve more,” Octavio stated. Thailand 2019 will be played in Pattaya “Now, we are focusing on the Asian Press TV — In Russia, a tremendous contribution by Sardar from March 9-17, 2019. championship because we want to Azmoun has led Zenit Saint Petersburg to cruise past Turkish “Without a doubt, we have an excellent qualify for the 2019 World Cup. How- club Fenerbaache with a 3-2 victory on aggregate. team in the Asian championship. We’ve ever, we know that Team Melli have a The Iranian International celebrated his wonderful night with found 86 new players across the country difficult task ahead in Thailand. But we an impressive assist and two goals that earned him the Player of and they took part in our training camps. are well-prepared and our main goal is the Week in the Europa League. It’s very important having young players winning one of the three places. Iraq are for the future,” the Brazilian said in an a strong team and we don’t take anything interview with Iran Football Federation’s for granted in Thailand,” the Brazilian website. coach concluded. Iranian center Haddadi joins Champville basketball club

AFC President hails Japan football Australia coach Andrej Lemanis home TASNIM — Iran international center Hamed Haddadi has joined Lebanese basketball club Champville. during visit for NBL finals, Caporn to coach The 218-cm former NBA center had also been linked with a move to Homenetmen but opted to join Champville. Haddadi was without a team after parting company with his Chinese club . He was Iran’s big absent against Japan, where Team Melli lost to the East Asian team 97-89 in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian qualifier on Thursday. Haddadi started his playing career in Iranian club Shahin Ahvaz in 1999 and joined in 2008 and played in the NBA team for five years.

Iran to play friendly with Belarus in Tehran

IRNA — Women’s national football teams of Iran and Belarus will hold friendly matches in early March in Tehran. According to the website of Iran’s Football Federation, Belarus will arrive in Tehran on March 1 and the two teams will play two The Asian Football Confederation eliminating Belgium.” Australian Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis against Kazakhstan. friendly matches on March 2 and 5. Both matches will be held (AFC) President, Shaikh Salman bin “The success Japan enjoys at every has been allowed to miss the team’s final BA high performance general manag- at Tehran’s Ararat Stadium at 11:00 AM local time. The Iranian Ebrahim Al Khalifa, recently visited level – they are AFC U-16 Champi- FIBA World Cup qualifier to return home er Jan Stirling said this game allowed for team prepare for the second round of 2020 AFC Women’s Olym- the headquarters of the Japan Football ons and their women’s teams won the and prepare for the NBL semi-finals. Caporn and assistant coach Luc Longley pic Qualifying Tournament which is going to be held in April. Association (JFA) in the capital, Tokyo. FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and Lemanis coached a Boomers side with to test themselves.“Basketball Australia Shaikh Salman met and congratu- took the silver medal at both the AFC 10 debutantes to a convincing 81-60 win agrees that it is appropriate for Andrej to lated Kohzo Tashima, the JFA Pres- Women’s Futsal Championship and over Kazakhstan on Friday morning with return to Australia in time for game one of ident who sits on the FIFA Council the Youth Olympic Games – is down the national side already qualified for the the NBL semi-final series,” Stirling said. Iran wrestlers to attend and AFC Executive Committee, before to hard work and great organization. World Cup in China in September. “We are very appreciative towards the Hungry Grand Prix being given a tour of the Association’s “In the last two years, their teams Basketball Australia announced on Sat- NBL who have been extremely co-operative headquarters. have also won the AFC Champions urday Lemanis would fly home to Brisbane throughout the qualifying process. The AFC President said: “Japan League – Urawa Red Diamonds in to prepare his Brisbane Bullets for their “This situation now provides the team an IRNA — Iranian Greco-Roman wrestlers are scheduled to at- is one of the leading football nations 2017 and last year Kashima Ant- semi-final series with Perth Wildcats starting opportunity to manage the ‘what if’ theory of tend Hungarian Grand Prix - Polyák Imre Memorial which will in Asia – something that they have lers lifted the trophy in Tehran. I on Thursday night in Perth. a head coach getting sick or being unable to be held in Györ, Hungary. demonstrated by winning the AFC was extremely happy to be able to Boomers assistant coach Adam Caporn coach during a major tournament so it will Some 11 Iranian wrestlers will participate in the weight cate- Women’s Asian Cup in 2018 and fin- congratulate my good friend, Kohzo will lead the side in their final qualifier provide great preparation for all involved.” gories of 55, 63, 72, 82, 97, 60, 67, 77, 87 and 130 kg. ishing as runners-up in the men’s AFC Tashima, on the well-deserved suc- against Iran in Tehran on Monday morning. Longley described Caporn as the best Wrestlers from Algeria, Belarus, Chile, China, the Czech Asian Cup which has just concluded cess that the Japan FA and Japanese BA and NBL clubs have worked closely person to lead the team and Caporn said Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland Georgia, Germany, Italy, in the United Arab Emirates. football has enjoyed.” together during the two-year qualifying cam- he looked forward to game time. Moldova, Norway, Romani, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine and the “The men’s team were also one of The Japan FA President said: “It paign as NBL-based players have filled most “The opportunity to contribute to the US will participate in the event. a record number of five Asian nations is a huge pleasure and honor for us at playing positions because NBA players are Boomers’ program as head coach is a Imre Polyák was a featherweight Greco-Roman wrestler from that qualified for the FIFA World Cup the JFA to receive the AFC President. exempt from selection during the US season. great privilege and I’m looking forward Hungary. He competed in the 1952, 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics in Russia and were the only one of He has been close to Japanese football No senior players from finals teams to completing our World Cup qualification and won three silver and one gold medal. He won the world title those five that progressed into the for a long time, since the time Junji were selected for this window of games process with this terrific group of athletes in 1955, 1958 and 1962, and placed second in 1961 and 1963. second round of the competition – Ogura was the President of the JFA.” although Sydney reserve guard Tom Wil- and staff,” Caporn said. and came within a few minutes of (Source; the-afc) son was handed his debut and played well (Source: SMH) Iran to host World Volleyball Dubai kicks off World Championship year League The World Para Athletics Grand Prix season gets un- Algeria’s Paralympic and world champion Abdelatif IRNA — Iran will host the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, derway in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday (24 Baka competes in the men’s 1,500m and 5,000m T13 said the caretaker of the Volleyball Federation of Iran on Saturday. February) with more than 430 athletes from nearly – his first time racing the longer distance. Compatriots The league will be held in the northwestern cities of Ardebil 50 countries set to take part in the first of eight Grand and fellow world medallists Samir Nouioua (T46) and and Orumiyeh late spring, with participation of Russia, Poland, Prix this year. Madjid Djemai (T37) also compete in Dubai. Canada and Iran, said Afshin Davari. The event takes place at the athletics stadium of the Great Britain’s Paralympic champion Paul Blake Saying that Iran’s volleyball has advanced in the past decade, Dubai Club for People of Determination – the same returns to action after injury last year in the 400m Davari added that in the world rankings, Iran’s U15 team holds venue that will host the 2019 World Championships and the 800m T36. the first, U16 team the fourth, U17 team the sixth, and national in just over eight months’ time. Field team the eighth places. Three female Para athletes from Saudi Arabia will Fresh from winning gold at the IWAS World Games He said that playing against Japan, Iran got points with a lot compete at the Dubai Grand Prix – the first time that earlier this month, Algeria’s six-time world champion of difficulties, but it is an established power in Asia, adding 13 women from the Middle Eastern country will compete Lahouari Bahlaz looks the one to beat in the men’s shot Iranian volleyball players play in big leagues, like those of Europe. in the series. put F32, while Iraq’s Paralympic and world champion Sarah Aljumaah lines up in the 100m T36 and the Garrah Tnaiash heads the field in the shot put F40. shot put F36; Amal Alahmari takes on the discus and Mounia Gasmi also won gold at the IWAS World shot put F37 and Zahra Al Tala competes in the discus Games and takes on the women’s shot put and club China PR set for and club throw F51. throw F32. Sprints Berrahal do battle once again. World gold and silver medallists Kamel Kardjena international challenge Having announced his retirement from athletics Top British sprinters Sophie Hahn (T38) and Maria of Algeria and Germany’s Daniel Scheil go head-to- after winning Commonwealth gold last April, Australian Lyle (T35) open their season in Dubai. Hahn faces head again in the shot put F33. The women’s event Reigning champions Uruguay will return to defend their crown Evan O’Hanlon is back on the track with his sights Germany’s Lindy Ave, double silver medallist behind features Algeria’s reigning world champion Asmahane in the 2019 China Cup International Championship as host now set on defending his world title in November. the Briton at Berlin 2018. Boudjadar. China PR kickstart their preparations for the 2022 FIFA World The 30-year-old, currently living in the Czech Turkey’s T53 racer Hamide Dogangun (Kurt), who All three world medallists in the men’s javelin F54 Cup Qualifiers. Republic with his wife and young daughter, took up won two European titles last year, is also in Dubai. are in action – Greek Manolis Stefanoudakis, Iraqi The third edition of the China Cup will run from March 21-25 bobsleigh last year but clearly can’t leave the track Distance Hamed Amiri and Belarusian Aliaksandr Tryputs, in , southern Zhuang Autonomous Region with behind him just yet. The men’s T54 field features the likes of Marcel who won earlier this week in Sharjah. China PR set take on Thailand on March 21, while Uruguay will Another Australian to watch out for is Chad Perris, Hug – who races the 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and Vanessa Low returns to action in the women’s long open their title defence against Uzbekistan the following day. who lines up in the 100m T13, while Scott Reardon 5,000m – and Tunisia’s Yassine Gharbi, who was in jump T61 after time out recovering from a back injury; China PR defeated Thailand 2-1 in the AFC Asian Cup UAE will face his big rival Atsushi Yamamoto of Japan in winning form at the Sharjah Open earlier this week. South Africa’s young star Ntando Mahlangu competes 2019 Round of 16 and a repeat performance will see Team Dragon the men’s 100m T63. Germany’s Alhassane Balde and Japanese duo Tomoki in the men’s long jump as well as the 200m T61. advance to the China Cup final for the first time. All three London 2017 world medallists - Rheed Suzuki and Sho Watanabe also line up. In the javelin events, watch out for New Zealand’s Jointly organised by the Chinese Football Association, the Guangxi McCracken, Mohamed Alhammadi, and Walid Ktila Australia’s T53 wheelchair athlete Madison de Ro- Holly Robinson (F46) and Norway’s Ida Nesse (F44), Sports Bureau and the Wanda Group, this year’s tournament will -take on the men’s 100m T34 with the trio also con- zario – a double gold medallist at last year’s Common- who will be hoping to continue her run of form after serve as a warm-up for Team Dragon, whose focus will be the 2022 testing the 800m T34 together, while in the men’s wealth Games – takes on the 800m, 1500m and 5,000m setting a new European record of 35.74m in Sharjah. FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, which kick-off in September. 100m T51, Peter Genyn, Toni Piispanen and Mohamed T54. Watch out for her teammate Angie Ballard too. (Source: Paralympic.org) (Source: the-afc) Prayer Times Noon:12:18 Evening: 18:13 Dawn: 5:17 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:40 (tomorrow) FEBRUARY 24, 2019 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Ali Asgari Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi Metal Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 engraving of Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Quran verses Tel: 88911433 Webmaster: [email protected] Printed at: Hamshahri No. 3 - ISSN: 1017-94 sells for over Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily

No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran P.o. Box: 14155-4843 $1.8 million at Zip Code: 1599814713 Baran Auction

ARTTEHRAN – A metal engraving deskfeaturing verses of the Holy Quran has fetched 77 billion rials (over $1.8 million) during the Baran Auction, which is dedicated to the sale of inscription impressions and calligraphy works. GUIDE TO The engraving was created by Ali-Akbar Khanzadeh SPIRITUAL AWAKENING on two gold-plated bronze sheets, each of which measures 180 by 147 cm. Avoid boasting and refrain from pride and unruliness, and The organizers said that the artwork is the most expensive item ever sold at an Iranian auction. Employees present a metal engraving featuring verses of the Holy Quran during the Baran Auction at Tehran’s Rayzan always remember your grave. International Conference Center on February 22, 2019. The artwork was the first top seller fetching over $1.8 million. Imam Ali (AS) Sixty-eight artworks were offered at the auction held at Tehran’s Rayzan International Conference Center (Honaronline/Ramona Mirian) on Friday evening. It took in over 117 billion rials Quran inscribed by Ali-Asgar Arsanjani from the Baran Auction. (over $2.8 million) as 19 items failed to find buyers. Qajar period was the most expensive item, which Mahbubeh Kazemi Dulabi is the founder and CEO of sold at 2 billion rials (about $48,000) during the the auction, which was launched September 30, 2016. Puppets to recount Sheikh Last year, an original manuscript of the Holy Sanan tragedy from Image of the Year Celebration opens “Conference of the Birds” Iran’s “Lotus” wins Big Sky artistic vision award at Iranian Artists Forum ARTTEHRAN – Iranian director Behruz deskGharibpur’s Aran Theater Troupe will perform an opera puppet show titled “Love” based on the Sheikh Sanan tragedy from Persian poet Attar Neyshaburi’s “The Conference of the Birds” at Tehran’s Ferdowsi Hall tonight.

“Lotus” by Mohammadreza Vatandoost. Art aficionados visit the exhibition of the Image of the Year Celebration at the Iranian A scene from the “Love” opera puppet show by Iranian director Artists Forum in Tehran on February 22, 2019. (Honaronline/Ramona Mirian) Behruz Gharibpur. (Tasnim/Nasser Jafari) ARTTEHRAN – patient, singular mission; and its innovative desk The story is about Sanan’s love for a Christian girl, who forces Iranian director subjective motifs rich with symbolism and ARTTEHRAN – The 16th Tasvir-e Iran Publications. desk the sheikh to do things against his beliefs and religion. Mohammadreza Vatandoost’s acclaimed emotion, we give this award to ‘Lotus’,” edition of the Image of Filmmaker Reza Mirkarimi, also attending Vocalist Davud Azad will lend his voice to Sheikh Sanan’s film “Lotus” won the mini-doc artistic vision it added. the Year Celebration was inaugurated on the ceremony, said that he has had the honor character and Shora Karimi is the composer of the opera. award at the 16th Big Sky Documentary “Pariah Dog” by American filmmaker Friday at the Iranian Artists Forum with to be friends with Samadian for years, and Over 20 singers, including Roshanak Keymanesh, Arash Khan- Film Festival in the U.S. city of Missoula, was selected as best feature documentary unveiling three books containing stills of added, “The idea of publishing the images zadi, Roham Khorshidvand, Sina Sazgari and Mohsen Mohebbi, Montana, the organizers announced on while the feature artistic vision award went to three acclaimed films of the history of Iranian of these three films was a great idea. Mehrjui will be collaborating in this production. Friday. “Dark Eden” co-directed by Jasmin Herold cinema. was extremely surprised to see the images Gharibpur has previously staged the opera puppet shows The doc tells the story of an old woman and Michael Beamish from Germany. Dariush Mehrjui’s 1969 cult film “The of his film.” “Ashura”, “Macbeth”, “Rustam and Sohrab”, “Rumi”, “Hafez” who is waiting for a permit to enter an island “Scenes from a Dry City” by Simon Wood Cow”, Nasser Taqvai’s 1987 drama “Captain The ceremony was concluded by screening and “Sadi”. to visit her son’s grave. and Francois Verster from South Africa was Khorshid” and French filmmaker Albert Mirkarimi’s “Qasre Shirin”. “We chose to give an artistic vision picked as best mini-documentary and “St. Lamorisse’s 1978 documentary “The “Qasre Shirin” won the Crystal Simorgh award to one film whose artistry and Louis Superman” by Smriti Mundhra and Lovers’ Wind” about the landscape of Iran for its screenwriters Mohsen Qarai and Keyhan Kalhor to perform craftsmanship stood out,” the jury said Sami Khan from the U.S. won the award are the films, which had the chance to be Mohammad Davudi at the 37th Fajr Film in its statement. for best short documentary. photographed. Festival this year. “Silent City” in Tehran “For its controlled and intentional use of “The Blessing” by American filmmaker The stills have been selected by the director The closing ceremony of the celebration pacing, natural light, and mise-en-scéne; its Hunter Robert Baker and Jordan Fein won of the celebration, Seifollah Samadian. will take place on March 8 honoring the ARTTEHRAN – Acclaimed Iranian kamancheh disciplined focus on one woman’s painfully the Big Sky Award. The three books have been published by winners. deskvirtuoso Keyhan Kalhor plans to go on stage in Tehran to perform tracks from his album “Silent City”. The concerts will be held at Movies with a message make impact Tehran’s Vahdat Hall during Fox cuts Smollett’s character from April, he said in press release “Empire” after arrest beyond Oscars glitz on Saturday. A number of Iranian musi- NEW YORK (Reuters) — Fox is cutting LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — The movie cians, including violinists Pedram Jussie Smollett’s character from its popular “Green Book” explores racial inequality, Faryusefi and Nilufar Mohebi, hip-hop drama “Empire” after the actor “Roma” reveals the emotional toll placed viola player Meisam Marvasti was arrested and accused of staging a hoax on domestic workers, and “RBG” chronicles and cellist Atena Eshtiaqi, will hate crime attack on himself, show officials the fight for women’s rights. accompany him during the per- said on Friday. The messages in the three Academy formances. The move came a day after the 36-year- Awards contenders are no accident. All were “Silent City” is a 30-minute old was charged with lying to Chicago police produced and financed by Participant Media, track from an album of the same about the allegedly staged incident, in a pioneer among a group of companies Yalitza Aparicio stars as Cleo in this name recorded by Kalhor and the which he said two masked men beat him Jussie Smollett exits Cook County Depart- aiming to advance social missions through handout still from the movie “Roma”. New York-based string quartet and slung a noose around his neck while ment of Corrections after posting bail in movies. (Reuters/Netflix/Handout) Brooklyn Rider at World Village yelling racist abuse. Chicago, Illinois, U.S., February 21, 2019. Participant was founded in 2004 by Iranian kamancheh virtuoso Records in 2008. Smollett’s character, Jamal Lyon, will (Reuters/Joshua Lott) billionaire and former eBay President Jeff provides benefits to house cleaners such Keyhan Kalhor performs in an “Silent City” was composed in be removed from the final two episodes of Detectives interviewed more than 100 Skoll. The company’s credits range from Al as paid time off. undated photo. memory of the victims of Iraq’s the current season of Empire, according to people, reviewed footage from more than Gore’s climate-change documentary “An Scott Budnick, who quit his career 1988 chemical attack on Halabja. 20th Century Fox Television, which said 55 surveillance cameras, and executed Inconvenient Truth” and Steven Spielberg’s producing comedies such as “The it wanted to avoid “further disruption” on more than 50 search warrants during historical drama “Lincoln” to “Spotlight”, a Hangover” to advocate for prison reform, the set of the show. the investigation. Officials did not spell best picture winner about journalists who is also working to spark change through Omar Nasiri’s “Inside the Smollett faces up to three years in prison out how Smollett had hoped to boost his exposed a cover-up of abuse by Catholic compelling and commercially successful if convicted in the case, which has become salary by staging such a hoax. priests. entertainment. Jihad” published in Persian fodder for the culture wars that have roiled A judge set bail at $100,000 on “We often gravitate toward stories of His new company, One Community, the United States since Donald Trump’s Thursday and ordered Smollett to ordinary people doing extraordinary things, is aiming to raise $10 million to mount a CULTURE TEHRAN – “Inside the Jihad: My Life with 2016 election. surrender his passport. He was released becoming leaders for change in their own year-long campaign around the January deskAl Qaeda”, the memoirs of the Belgian spy of “The events of the past few weeks have after paying 10 percent of the bail amount and others’ lives,” Participant Media Chief 2020 release of the film “Just Mercy,” a Moroccan origin Omar Nasiri has recently been published in been incredibly emotional for all of us,” as stipulated by the judge. Executive David Linde said by email. biographical drama starring Michael B. Persian in Tehran. Empire’s co-creators and producers said According to an unnamed source “Roma” is a prime example, Linde said. Jordan as a lawyer fighting to free a man The book was translated by Vahid Khazab and released by in a statement. “While these allegations cited by CNN, Smollett apologized to The black-and-white drama, which was wrongly convicted of murder. Shahid Kazemi Publications in Tehran. are very disturbing, we are placing our the cast and crew on the set of Empire distributed by Netflix Inc, revolves around The campaign is expected to kick off Nasiri infiltrated into Al-Qaeda from 1994 to 2000, attending trust in the legal system as the process late on Thursday, but maintained that Cleo, an indigenous Mexican housekeeper within the next two months and will be training camps in Afghanistan and passing information to the plays out.” he is innocent. who displays courage in the face of serious designed to prompt changes on issues UK and French intelligence services. Lawyers for Smollett did not respond While Smollett initially received an challenges. such as the death penalty and juvenile to a request for comment on Friday. On outpouring of support on social media It will compete at the Oscars on Sunday for sentencing, Budnick said in an interview. Wednesday, they said they were conducting from fans, celebrities and some politicians, best picture with “Green Book,” a Participant One Community, which is co-financing “23 Individuals” tops at a thorough investigation to form an others were skeptical about the attack, movie released by Comcast Corp’s Universal “Just Mercy” with AT&T Inc’s Warner Bros., aggressive defense. which he said took place outside his Chicago Pictures about a black pianist on a 1962 “is the branch between philanthropy and Qoqnus Screen Awards According to court documents, the apartment at 2 a.m. on a frigid night. concert tour of the segregated U.S. South. politics to the entertainment community,” 1 The awards ceremony was organized at Tehran’s black actor wrote a personal check for Among those who supported the actor “RBG,” about U.S. Supreme Court he said. Sarcheshmeh Cultural Complex where “Blood Trap” by Moham- $3,500 to two brother and gave them were Democratic presidential candidates Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is up for best While many philanthropists and mad-Hossein Mahdavian, a sequel to his 2017 acclaimed movie $100 to buy the rope, ski masks, gloves Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand. On documentary. politicians want to tackle problems such “Midday Event”, was picked as second best film. and red baseball caps that were used in Thursday, Harris said in a statement she Participant’s movies are paired with off- as poverty or homelessness, “they are never Mahdavian was also selected as the Revolutionary Cinema the supposed attack on Jan. 29. was “sad, frustrated and disappointed” by screen activism. For “Roma,” the company aligned with a major studio that may be Figure of the Year. Police said Smollett hoped the incident the latest reports. Gillibrand said she will joined the National Domestic Workers spending $20, $40 or $60 million to sell Film critic and scholar Majid Shah-Hosseini was also honored would advance his career and secure him wait to find out the facts before making Alliance to push for labor protections that issue to the public,” Budnick said. for his lifetime achievements. a higher salary. another statement. and supported the launch of an app that “We’re here to be that aligner,” he said.